Molly Hite discusses Anna and Maudie interaction with Mr.
Jones and Mr. Jeffries in this fashion: “… an attribute she puts on … to make
herself desirable to a prospective buyer. Inasmuch as these women are viewed
primarily as commodities, their defining features [(Anna and Maudie’s)] are
presumed to be responses to the market: supply created solely in order to satisfy
demand” (49). I think this is a big statement, and Hite proceeds to
occasionally refer to Anna as a prostitute or having the potential to be a
prostitute: “If Anna has been used, her option is to “get on” in the
prostitution business” (47). What do we think of this? I know we haven’t read
very far into the novel yet, but do we see Anna as a potential prostitute? We
know she often has issues with Mr. Jeffries, as on page 22, “He kisses me
again, and his mouth was hard, and I remembered him smelling the glass of wine
and I couldn’t think of anything but that, and I hated him” but she is
interested in his money (she agrees to see him again after he sends her money).
What do we think of her affection for money and its correlation with sex thus
far in the novel?
It may depend on what you call a prostitue. Clearly Anna is not prepared to offer sex to unknown men for money by the end of part one. However, she is already, by the standards of the time, a kept woman. The analogy is between a chef who works in a restaurant open to the public, and a personal chef -- she still provides sex and companionship in return for money. Now, the mystification of love and vast power differentials between men and women, wealthy and poor are clearly informing her choices here, but with a little bit of verbal jujitsu, we could call her a prostitue.
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