Essay Questions

What does the title "Fifty Shades Darker" allude to?

The title of the first book was a play on Christian's last name (Grey) and his notion that he was "fifty shades of f---ed up", because of all his issues. He was trying to convey to the main character, Anastasia Steele, why he couldn't offer her a "normal/vanilla" relationship, given the many psychological issues he was dealing with: the problems that stemmed from his relationship with his addicted mom, abandonment issues, his relationship as a teenager with Elena ("Mrs. Robinson"). Given that the first book ends with the couple breaking up after Anastasia is unable to accept the punishment aspect of Christian's sexual interests, the second novel begins in a darker place because both characters are miserable.

As the story develops, the characters meet again and rekindle their relationship, this time without a contract. While they are at a better emotional place than in the first novel, the problems they face, as they adjust to their relationship, stand up to and for each other, confront Anastasia's new boss, face a life-threatening situation (Christian and the helicopter ride), and deal with what they want and expect of their relationship, the "darker" could also allude to the pleasure Anastasia gives into, as she asks Christian to further that aspect of his interests and to teach her what could be considered a taboo or "darker" sexual relationship.

Why is Anastasia angry that Christian is still friends with Elena, and that they even share a business?

Anastasia sees Elena not as a woman who saved Christian at a complicated period in his time (during his adolescence), but as an adult woman who preyed on a younger boy and took advantage of his emotional problems to find the satisfaction she sought. Christian doesn't see this, as he considers her a friend who helped him out, yet Anastasia is distressed to learn that their relationship, while platonic, is ongoing, and he doesn't understand her point until a confrontation between Elena and Anastasia, where the former shows her true colors and expresses her idea that Anastasia will never be enough for Christian because he will never be happy in a vanilla relationship.