Myths (motif)
Throughout the novel, some allusions and references to ancient mythologies might be traced. Fanny once called Charles “my Adonis”. Adonis was a beautiful young man loved by two goddesses - Aphrodite and Persephone; indeed, Adonis is a distinguished figure of mythology and his image is represented by youth and beauty. One of her clients’ face Fanny describes as “a round, plump, fresh coloured face gave him greatly the look of a Bacchus”. Bacchus was a god of wine, so the carrier of “look of a Bacchus” is supposed to be drinking a lot, a proof of which is his red face. Allusions to myths was a common thing in literature of Enlightenment epoch.
The ball (allegory)
In Mrs. Cole’s brothel, the attitude to a woman and sexual relationship was equal to sacred: no violence, no compulsion was followed and respected here. Woman’s body was respected by the clients and a woman would not be forced to do what she did not want. This becomes clear after the ball which was organized and held for Fanny. The “ball” was not a ball in a traditional sense, and it was an initiation of Fanny into the very essence of her profession. Four girls, including Fanny, and four rich and respected gentlemen gathered together. They all were divided into couples and each couple had to perform their “dance” in front of the rest. Fanny, as a new one, was the last to go “dancing” with her partner chosen by Mrs. Cole. Thus the ball allegorically means orgy, and the “dance” is a physical act of love.
