Nature and Sexuality
Nature and sexuality are the main themes of the novel, Fanny Hill appears as a product of a new conception of human solidarity that resisted the listed practices. The epoch of Enlightenment introduced the idea of the cult of Nature, which included sexuality. Since human nature is to follow the innate feelings and needs, there can be nothing abominable or sinful in it. Behavior should be dictated by Nature, sexuality should be taken as its constituent and not be struggled. Through vivid pictures of sexual acts the author depicts sexuality as a part of human nature, and what is natural should not automatically be seen as disgusting.
Love
Love is another important theme addressed in the novel. With the example of the protagonist, the author shows how important love is for getting more satisfaction in sexual relationships. Fanny has known a lot of men, and rather different men with different desires and wishes, but her heart was always close for them. Charles was her only love, and this love she carried in her heart through all her life. An emotional level combined with a physical one is considered as the highest level of happiness, and it is revealed in the novel as a fact.
Civilized vs. Savage
Another important theme of Fanny Hill is a clear boundary between nature and savage. Sexuality has the right to exist only in a civilized, rational way. Animal manifestations of passion are by no means welcome, sex should be refined and polite. So Cleland opposes two brothels that Fanny gets into. In the first brothel, Fanny is compelled by its mistress Mrs. Brown and is painfully struggling with the rape involving an ugly man blinded by animal lust. In the second, which belongs to Mrs. Cole, sex is surrounded by a multitude of rituals and courtship, so this institution is represented as "exemplary".
