Let's talk about sex

We're all adults here, so let's not get coy. Sex is a HUGE part of If on a winter's night a traveler. The way that sex is portrayed in the novel might be a writing device, or might reflect the author's views on sex.

Throughout the novel sex is used, literally. The characters don't have sex, they are controlled by it or through it. Sex, then, becomes not the act of sexual intercourse but an act of domination which places a character completely under the thrall of another character. And most often the controlling character is the woman.


Calvino makes his female characters manipulative and conniving sphinxes who seek to control their destinies through the domination of a man.

Sex itself is used often in the "novel" chapters as a shock device. Within the story chapters there is no "normal" sex, no middle-of-the-road missionary, lights off, eyes closed style. There is a threesome, adultery, and manipulative exhibitionism. This gives us the sense of unreality that is prevalent in most of the story chapters. This unreality is a way to let us know that we are not within the reality of the "you."

In the plot chapters the sex is at first normalish, and then becomes and expression of rebellion. When you has sex with Ludmilla it is normal. When you has sex with Lotaria/secret-agent-chick it is an act of rebellion, it is a way for you to come into control of his life and is thus also a reflection of the domination sex in the other chapters.
The difference is that in the plot chapters it is you, who is male, that manipulates the sex for his own benefit. So he more aptly reflects the female characters in the novels that he reads. Randomly.

This portrayal of sex might also reflect Calvino's views on sex or his relationship with sex. But that gets into a) creepy and b) irrelevant territory. Instead let's focus on sex as a literary device. (Please god)

Sex plays a huge role in the story as a symbol of domination and manipulation. Yet we didn't even touch on it in class. Which makes me think "puritan morals" in really big hot pink bold letters.

Which amuses me.