Essay Questions

How does the issue of illicit sexual affair emerge in ‘The Stud’?

The book revolves around unfaithfulness and exposes the dark side of marriage. Fontaine is married to Khaled, and the couple is wealthy and successful. However, Fontaine is just married to Khaled for his money and riches, and she uses that opportunity to satisfy her sexual desires. Fontaine uses the family money and opens up a decorative night club where she doubles as a pimp. Khaled thinks that his wife is an entrepreneur and an innovative woman who wants to add value to the family wealth. Ironically, Fontaine is using this as a scapegoat to have sex with multiple men. Fontaine first employs Tony on the condition that he satisfies her sexual needs. Tony agrees, but with time, he sets his eyes on Fontaine's stepdaughter called Alexandra, and starts an affair with her. On realizing that Fontaine is cheating on him, Khaled decides to pick a supermodel called Dolores as his side chick, and the illicit sexual affairs continue.

Is the theme of opportunism prevalent in the novel?

Some of the characters, such as Fontaine, Tony, and Alexandra, are depicted as opportunists who serve their selfish interests. Fontaine is a married woman, but she takes advantage of her husband's innocence to set up a club so that she can have multiple sexual affairs with different men. Similarly, Fontaine employs Tony on the condition that he becomes her lover. On the other hand, Tony takes advantage of Fontaine's innocence in business management to loot her money to set up his club. When Alexandra realizes that Tony is making sexual advances at her, she uses him but later dumps him for a more attractive man.

What is familiar about the characters Fontaine, Benjamin, Tony, and Alexandra?

Pride without humility emerges as a common factor among the central characters in this book. When Fontaine opens a nightclub, she thinks that she is a goddess and she wants to sleep with any man of her choice. Fontaine uses her influence to blackmail her male employees into sleeping with her. Similarly, Fontaine mistreats her male lovers because she knows that she can change them like clothes. On the other hand, Tony's pride drives him to swindle Fontaine's fortune to open his night club. Alexandra is depicted as more humiliating than her stepmother because she treats him even severely when she realizes that Tony is after her. On the other hand, when Benjamin discovers that his wife is cheating on him and swindling his wealth, he uses his influence to marry the most beautiful model as a way of revenge. The novel ends on a sad note because Benjamin divorces Fontaine, and she is left miserable.