Deconstructing O,

I had the audacity :rolleyes: to post a story several months ago concerning the final fate of O. I was chastised a bit for my crudeness and cruelty and it was patiently explained to me that I just didn't understand the story. This lead to some interesting conversations with my part time proof reader and editor as to both the legality of appropriating fictional characters, and more interestingly Why "The Story of O" is such a literary icon to the BDSM community. I mean Rice's Sleeping Beauty is all right and Hamilton writes an amusing yarn but nothing really comes close to "The Story of O". Part of it's allure is it's one of the first to be widely published, part is the language and sensitivity,. Some would say it's because a woman wrote it I think a good part of it is the way the eroticism is so laconic. Much is said with so few words and the reader is made to imagine the details. I would be interested in other's thoughts on the matter. Mad Lews

If I am not mistakin, at the end of the story of O in one of alternative endings Sir Steffen wanted to give her to another and O would rather die than leave sir steffen so he abliged her.
So in effect Stoy of O is a snuff story.
So I do not see how you could be crueler than that.

Ahh there is snuff and then there is snuff. but what I was curious about was not the ending or other alternative endings but what makes the story itself so diffrent from other BDSM tales

Its hard to discuss this particular book because it evokes so many different feelings...

I read your ending and thought you did a nice job of capturing the
way I felt about Stephen.

O, like Beauty, fell in love with her submission.
Beauty fell in love with each master for what
they could give her and teach her. She was a cherished slave
and eventually discovers herself and what she wants/needs and
is willing to pursue it.

But unlike Anne Rice's Beauty, O's relationship with her masters, including Stephen, was especially abusive. She is permanently marked - branded - and as Mobius points out she is allowed to end her life. If you read the other alternative ending, then she never regains her freedom.

With a healthy relationship, submission is a form of its own power.
I often wondered what power O had besides submitting. She didn't
seem to ever say "no".

* Steps away and prepares for the flaming arrows to arrive *

For those of you who haven't read the tale, it is available in text format free on many web sites.

I can't say the Story Of O ever did anything for me. I saw the film in France in the seventies but didn't realise it was the Story Of O until I saw the film again on late night TV only last year. I never read the story until a couple of years ago. Maybe I came to it too late and time has rendered it too polite and reserved. Certainly compared to writing you find on this site the Story Of O is a walk in the park! It's obviously an icon but its attraction is still lost on me.

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Originally Posted by Ruby

Its hard to discuss this particular book because it evokes so many different feelings...

I read your ending and thought you did a nice job of capturing the
way I felt about Stephen.

O, like Beauty, fell in love with her submission.
Beauty fell in love with each master for what
they could give her and teach her. She was a cherished slave
and eventually discovers herself and what she wants/needs and
is willing to pursue it.

But unlike Anne Rice's Beauty, O's relationship with her masters, including Stephen, was especially abusive. She is permanently marked - branded - and as Mobius points out she is allowed to end her life. If you read the other alternative ending, then she never regains her freedom.

With a healthy relationship, submission is a form of its own power.
I often wondered what power O had besides submitting. She didn't
seem to ever say "no".

* Steps away and prepares for the flaming arrows to arrive *

For those of you who haven't read the tale, it is available in text format free on many web sites.

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I have to agree with you that unlike R/L O does not exchange power but revels in surrendering it. Therefore she becomes the perfect (if unreal) foil for the true sadist. (and perhaps the perfect hero for the true masochist).----Mad Lews

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Originally Posted by Mad Lews

...Therefore she becomes the perfect (if unreal) foil for the true sadist. (and perhaps the perfect hero for the true masochist).----Mad Lews

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That's it! Well said. And perhaps the reason why her character remains so beloved long after the tale itself fades into memory.

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Originally Posted by Mad Lews

I have to agree with you that unlike R/L O does not exchange power but revels in surrendering it. Therefore she becomes the perfect (if unreal) foil for the true sadist. (and perhaps the perfect hero for the true masochist).----Mad Lews

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Just like all the legends that has been remebered much better than others, the only factor that keeps this story alive in people's head is .. the DRAMA.

Even in BDSM, similar to normal life, people look up at different characters as role models, and sympathize with them, specially when they have not been treated well for their achievements. Like the female submissive character in Story of O, and Male sub in Venus in Furs. Both are remembered cause of the sad endings.

... And after all, melancholic sad ends effects rather more than happy ones!!

AconitE.

Yes I am an "O-A-phile" I have the text file on my computer. I have the original movie on DVD. I have several of the serialized Story of O tv shows that were aired in italy

I would love if they did a Good remake of it. The only things that I would not want would to make it a musical. But as god as my witness you watch they will.

Coming to broad way andrew loyd webber Story of O the musical

Not to creepy

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Originally Posted by Mobius

Coming to broad way andrew loyd webber Story of O the musical

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Given all the not-too-subtle BDSM overtones in ALW's musicals, especially Phantom of the Opera, you may well see it, Moby.

I think the differing takes on O and Beauty are quite interesting. O (and the sequel) was probably my first "formal" introduction to BDSM, nearly 30 years ago. At the time, kinky as I thought I was, I recoiled from the absoluteness of it.

I read the first Beauty book about 4 years ago, and found it entirely too cute. Some of it was the writing style, which honestly irritated me more than anything else. Some of it was the over-formality (IMHO). I'm too casual for my own good. :D

One comment that got my attention was equating "abusive" with being marked. I'm not branded (yet) but have several intimate piercings from my Master, and definitely don't feel abused. Just very well used....and valued. Of course, we all have different standards.

Curiously, over the last many years, I find myself identifying more with O than I ever expected (or thought I wanted, for that matter). The deeper Master leads me, the further I seem to want to go. Funny how that works.

I must be doing something wrong, though. I feel like I'm living "happily ever after" instead of something disastrous or melancholy. There are moments when I'm certain I'm getting away with something, and the inevitable "other shoe" will drop, but mostly I'm just grinning like a fool. Yet, when I tell my story, nobody seems to be bored. ;)

reading the story of O left me with a fealing of sadness. I simply cant understand why sir stephen would leave her after he made her perfect. In the text file i have there are given two possible endings:

in a final chapter, which has been suppressed, O returned to Roissy, where she was abandoned by Sir Stephen.

there exists a second ending to Story of O, according to which O, seeing that Sir Stephen was about to leave her, said she would prefer to die. Sir Stephen gave her his consent.

Both endings are sad, and neither works for me. Perhaps thats why it enthralls me so, perhaps i simply cant let O be treated that way. In other words I want to rescue O from that terrible fate, and therefore teh story lingers within me.

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Originally Posted by Sir Lanceloth

there exists a second ending to Story of O, according to which O, seeing that Sir Stephen was about to leave her, said she would prefer to die. Sir Stephen gave her his consent.[/I]

Both endings are sad, and neither works for me. Perhaps thats why it enthralls me so, perhaps i simply cant let O be treated that way. In other words I want to rescue O from that terrible fate, and therefore teh story lingers within me.

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O's story is indeed a sad one. She submits with a purity of purpose out of love for Rene and is given away to Sir Stephen. She submits to him with an even greater intensity and passion and is in the end abandoned by him. Was it simply O's chosen fate, a failure of her Masters ( and by extension Reage's belief in the shortcoming of males ), or perhaps its just an attempt by Pauline Reage to bring a moral ending to a tale of what would be considered debauchery in the 50s. The lack of an ending is the books flaw and also what makes it so intriguing to me. I dismiss the sequel as a fraud. It is too different in tone and composition to have been written by the same writer IMHO.

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Originally Posted by Mad Lews

I dismiss the sequel as a fraud. It is too different in tone and composition to have been written by the same writer IMHO.

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there is a sequel? and where is it ;)

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Originally Posted by Sir Lanceloth

there is a sequel? and where is it ;)

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Actually published 15 years later in1969 it's called Return to the Chateau
and is available on amazon. see if you think I'm right ....

Would that be the French language version? I have 'only' the English one.

Puh-leeze!

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Originally Posted by Mobius

Yes I am an "O-A-phile" I have the text file on my computer. I have the original movie on DVD. I have several of the serialized Story of O tv shows that were aired in italy

I would love if they did a Good remake of it. The only things that I would not want would to make it a musical. But as god as my witness you watch they will.

Coming to broad way andrew loyd webber Story of O the musical

Not to creepy

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Originally Posted by jeanne

Would that be the French language version? I have 'only' the English one.

Puh-leeze!

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Are you refering to the txt file?
Or the Story of O the series.

Both are in english. I do not speak french nor want to.

No word on the story of O the musical.

"Beet me Beet me, tie me up sir stephin" da ta da tra la :)

Actually Mobius, you may be interested to know that Mozart wrote that more than 200 years ago, in Don Giovanni. Although I don't suppose that would stop A L Webber from his usual recycling.

Seeing a young and coquettish soprano (as Zerlina usually is) singing this at the opera is very sweet indeed :) Trust me, they're not ALL fat ladies :)

Batti, batti, o bel Masetto,
La tua povera Zerlina;
Staro' qui come angellina,
Le tue botte ad aspettar.
Lasciero' stracciarmi il crine;
Lasciero' stracciarmi gli occhi;
E le care tue manine
Lieta poi sapro baciar.
Ah! lo vedo, non hai core!
Pace, pace, o mia!
In contenti, ed allegria,
Notte e di vogliam passar.

IN ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
Beat me, beat me, dear Masetto,
Beat Zerlina at your will;
Like the patient lamb I'll suffer,
Meek and mute, and loving still.
Rend those locks you praised so highly;
From your arms Zerlina cast;
These fond eyes in rage extinguish
Fondly still they'll look their last.
Ah! I see, love, you're relenting-
Pardon, kneeling, I implore you!
Night and day, to you devoted,
here I vow to err no more.

that little poem just made mozart an interesting topic for me vow, that has newer happened before :D

I'm an 'O' fanatic. I've got the original book and the (crummy) sequel and both the Just Jakelin movie and the 10 part serial.

I really love the story and more than anything else it got me into BDSM 30 years ago.

BUT - it suffers from the recurrent theme that BDSM leads to sadness and despair. That is a pity. This site attests the the fact that there are great many BDSM lovers (very likely the majority) who have been happily together for years.

It is almost impossible to get a story of BDSM involvement that has a happy ending. I tried to do it in my story "Karen and the Torture Club" in which I wanted all parties to enjoy the experience which is how it must be for the relationship to endure in the longer term.

The series? Perish the thought. The only true sequel is Reage's 'Retour a Roissy', which she wrote with the specific intent of deconstructing 'Story of O' - removing the glamour and revealing the pettiness of characters like Sir Stephen, a pimp and crook.

Of course, to many readers it made the story even more exciting...

The movie was glossy trash.

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Originally Posted by Mobius

Are you refering to the txt file?
Or the Story of O the series.

Both are in english. I do not speak french nor want to.

No word on the story of O the musical.

"Beet me Beet me, tie me up sir stephin" da ta da tra la :)

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Hello A/all... New to the forum, but drawn to the discussion as moth to flame.
I discovered my nature when I read the Story of O at a tender age... fortunately, I had found conventional porn prior to that, so I have never worried about whether or not I am a natural Dom or an example of those who would say BDSM literature can corrupt. (Well, maybe it can... lol)

In any case, my contribution to the discussion is information regarding the sequel and the relationship between the two. The original author, whose name escapes, me at the moment, wrote Story of O as a love-letter to her lover... who, we can presume, was at least somewhat Dom...

The publisher, who I believe was either the lover or a close associate, truncated the story. It is true there is a different tone to the remainder of the story, but that is not unusual, since if it is to be believed, the intro to the second part (titled "A Girl in Love"?) states the sections were penned and posted serially, with no editing.

The "endings" discussed above were inserted by the editor, not the author!

Without giving away the contents of the second tome, it is true the tone of the tome changes, but not enough to influence me to suspect it is not written by the same author.

There was also a completely unauthorized "part II" that turned O into a Dom! It did have some interesting scenes... but not my cup of tea.

The original cut of the 70s film was quite different from what is on DVD. If anyone is aware of that issue and is aware of where to find that cut, please contact me...

The ten part mini-series I found very nice, and that brings us to some of the reasons why Story of O has had such persistence... The competition, by comparison, is practically puerile portrayals of non-stop sex. Story of O has a story... not a great one, disjointed, but definitely a step above a blog.

Don't get me wrong, I get off on every other (heterosexual) chapter of Rice, etc., but with Rice the comparison is extreme... Beauty versus a conventional title such as Exit to Eden (not her best) or the Lasher series... shows the difference between porn and erotica.

Oh, and I put in my vote for Laura Reese, too. Anyone read her? Wow. My vote for a latter-day "Reage", even if she feels compelled to hide her proclivities in detective stories....

It has been a pleasure, glad to have discovered this spot.

Master Scott :)

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Originally Posted by DomSadistMan

Hello A/all... New to the forum, but drawn to the discussion as moth to flame.
I discovered my nature when I read the Story of O at a tender age... fortunately, I had found conventional porn prior to that, so I have never worried about whether or not I am a natural Dom or an example of those who would say BDSM literature can corrupt. (Well, maybe it can... lol)

In any case, my contribution to the discussion is information regarding the sequel and the relationship between the two. The original author, whose name escapes, me at the moment, wrote Story of O as a love-letter to her lover... who, we can presume, was at least somewhat Dom...

The publisher, who I believe was either the lover or a close associate, truncated the story. It is true there is a different tone to the remainder of the story, but that is not unusual, since if it is to be believed, the intro to the second part (titled "A Girl in Love"?) states the sections were penned and posted serially, with no editing.

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I believe she was saying they were posted to her lover serially, this all took place in the late 40s early 50s before the story was published

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Originally Posted by DomSadistMan

The "endings" discussed above were inserted by the editor, not the author!

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That's a new one on me. Pauline Reage even refers to her lack of an ending and the two alternatives which she "allowed in a sentence" in her somewhat rambling introduction to " Return to the Chateau". I always felt she was attempting a symmetry when she offered two beginnings that weren't really a beginning and two endings that weren't really an ending.

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Originally Posted by DomSadistMan

Without giving away the contents of the second tome, it is true the tone of the tome changes, but not enough to influence me to suspect it is not written by the same author.

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I'd have to say the fact that the second book was published almost 2 decades after the first, might have a bit to do with the change in style and temperament. The affair that spawned the first book had most likely ended, and affairs of such passion rarely end well. The passage of two decades had changed Reage for better or worse. It is telling that she refers to her former self as a "Girl in Love" in her long-winded preamble.

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Originally Posted by DomSadistMan

Oh, and I put in my vote for Laura Reese, too. Anyone read her? Wow. My vote for a latter-day "Reage", even if she feels compelled to hide her proclivities in detective stories....
It has been a pleasure, glad to have discovered this spot.

Master Scott :)

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I loved Reese's topping from below until she threw in her moralistic ending. Still even De'Sade was known to hide behind morality, just look at "Justine"
It is a pleasure to have you join the conversation. Don't be a stranger

Mad Lews

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Originally Posted by Mad Lews

I believe she was saying they were posted to her lover serially, this all took place in the late 40s early 50s before the story was published



That's a new one on me. Pauline Reage even refers to her lack of an ending and the two alternatives which she "allowed in a sentence" in her somewhat rambling introduction to " Return to the Chateau". I always felt she was attempting a symmetry when she offered two beginnings that weren't really a beginning and two endings that weren't really an ending.



I'd have to say the fact that the second book was published almost 2 decades after the first, might have a bit to do with the change in style and temperament. The affair that spawned the first book had most likely ended, and affairs of such passion rarely end well. The passage of two decades had changed Reage for better or worse. It is telling that she refers to her former self as a "Girl in Love" in her long-winded preamble.
Mad Lews

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Yep I am an O-phille. :) Maybe checking an 'overliterate' (if there is such thing) but informative www.storyofo.co.uk will clear some of factual cunfusion on Dominic Aury (Reage).

Two ending are of course the same - O dissapears.

Maybe the fascination with O has something to do with style of writting. The softcore, let's call it veiled style allow some people to see it as almost gruesome whilt to other it's just a walk in the park. It's neither - why we just cannot leave it alone (the book, not O - who'd wanto to leave O alone?)
and take it at face value? It does not have to have any 'reasons' hiden meaning, motives etc. There was a story thant Simon De Bovoar (sic) wrote it to 'get back' o Sarte for treating her as piece of trash. Intelectual rubish!

What I'd like to know: is it possible that it was purely fantasy as Aury claims - response to a challenge 'women can't write good erotica' and a love letter of course. It's just too informed, rituals to worked out' etc. Or is it veceversa - so many thing coming from O? If so she really spoiled me in my budding youth!
Have fun!

Everything you wanted to know about O but were afraid to ask can be found here:

http://www.storyofo.co.uk/

It's probably THE most complete site about her and her creator, Dominique Aury (aka Pauline Reage)

kinkabella

PS: Oops! I missed reading the previous post. :o

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Originally Posted by slave802120

Everything you wanted to know about O but were afraid to ask can be found here:

http://www.storyofo.co.uk/

It's probably THE most complete site about her and her creator, Dominique Aury (aka Pauline Reage)

kinkabella

PS: Oops! I missed reading the previous post. :o

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A loverly and overly inclusive ite which might tell you more than you ever wanted to know about O's story and her creator (asuming you believe Dominique Aury was Pauline Reage) but it still leaves a few quests for the audience.
I for one want to know the "Why?" more than the who and where.Not the why of her writing the tale but Why the audience still grows.
Mad

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Originally Posted by Mad Lews

I for one want to know the "Why?" more than the who and where.Not the why of her writing the tale but Why the audience still grows.
Mad

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Any of the following ring a bell?

It's kind of magic. :dunno:

It has a reputation. At any given moment somebody is saying: "You want to know about that D/s stuff … let's see … ah yes read that Story of O."

I have several friends (all female) who simply adore O. They are all (alegedly) vanilla and claim to see is as a 'love story' or 'parabole on quest for love', but who knows what goes bump in the dark ;) . The book has turned on more people than any other. Again reputation.

It has just the right blend of hard and softcore.

I don’t see O as perfect victim but who wouldn't want to save or damn (as the case may be) O?

It's kind of magic! :D

Have fun

Pejanon

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Originally Posted by pejanon

Any of the following ring a bell?

It's kind of magic. :dunno:

It has a reputation. At any given moment somebody is saying: "You want to know about that D/s stuff … let's see … ah yes read that Story of O."

I have several friends (all female) who simply adore O. They are all (alegedly) vanilla and claim to see is as a 'love story' or 'parabole on quest for love', but who knows what goes bump in the dark ;) . The book has turned on more people than any other. Again reputation.

It has just the right blend of hard and softcore.

I don’t see O as perfect victim but who wouldn't want to save or damn (as the case may be) O?

It's kind of magic! :D

Have fun

Pejanon

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Come on Pejanon,
You know it's not polite to make people think on Momday morning. :p
By the way, saw your intro and a belated welcome. I'd never guess you were ESL your command of the Queens own is better than most.
Yours
Mad

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Originally Posted by Mad Lews

Come on Pejanon,
You know it's not polite to make people think on Momday morning. :p Mad

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You have trouble thinking? I don't believe that for a nanosecond. Perhaps NOT thinking … (I have trouble with that) :p

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Originally Posted by Mad Lews

By the way, saw your intro and a belated welcome. I'd never guess you were ESL your command of the Queens own is better than most.
Yours
Mad

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WOW! Thank you. It means a lot. (A moment of sacred silence, eyes cast upward almost blushing :o .) Then I check my first post in this tread. What a mess (even without the spell chkr) So I don't really believe you … but thanks a lot.

But, O is waiting.

Any suggestions ...?

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Originally Posted by pejanon

WOW! Thank you. It means a lot. (A moment of sacred silence, eyes cast upward almost blushing :o .) Then I check my first post in this tread. What a mess (even without the spell chkr) So I don't really believe you … but thanks a lot.

But, O is waiting.

Any suggestions ...?

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Ok my mysterious friend, I can take a lot of abuse, really, but now you question my sincerity. You have piqued my interest. Your profile offers no real hint as to your location. Fair enough but I would love to know what you claim as a native tongue.
I've worked with ESL students as literacy volunteer and I've played host to exchange students with years of English classes but none came close to your command of the language. So what pray tell is the story. Did you spend a goodly chunk of your youth in an English speaking country, attend an English only school, Oh god tell me you're not really from Quebec. Please do tell inquiring minds want to know.
Oh and O can wait a bit longer she's not going anywhere
Mad