In this book, Fontaine attempts a kind of clumsy role reversal. In her mind, power looks like what she does with it, making herself extraordinary and decorating herself in lavish attire. Instead of isolating what aspects of power were actually helpful in the grand scheme of success, she repeats the bad behaviors of men and tries to "get even" with the misogyny she has witnessed in her society. Therefore, she subjects Tony to a similar kind of fate to her own, objectifying him in the way toxic masculinity often objectifies her.
The question raised by this dilemma is whether Fontaine's power was sustainable. Her husband actually funds her endeavors, so that is evidence that alone, she wouldn't be able to succeed, because she depends on her husband's resources. But, she cheats on him and betrays him. Is this because she secretly begrudges her dependency on him? In the end, it is a kind of freedom that Benjamin gives her by divorcing her, but she must sacrifice power to benefit.
Instead of sacrificing, we see a final attitude of entitlement and victimhood on the last few pages. She has a real opportunity to try freeing herself from her many issues, but instead, she permanently binds herself to this singular moment in time. She feels that she is becoming powerful in her anger and thirst for vengeance, but the novel is clear; she is powerless. She is merely kicking back against her fate with her violent emotions. In the end, she is alone because she only manipulates people and never sacrifices her will for others.
