Confusions in the Story of O.

The original impetus for the set of rules and guidelines that became Code d' Odalisque came from women who were looking for a submissive style of play without sado-masochistic themes. This is still the defining characteristic of Code d' Ode - it still caters for such women. There are many women who enjoy being used sexually and who find sexual submission fulfilling. But very often they find that others assume this means they like being treated as a piece of trash. They enjoy being commanded for sexual service but find that would-be Masters want to whip, beat or torture them as well. There is a common assumption that submissive women enjoy degradation and pain. Indeed, sado-masochistic submission is the standard in BDSM sub-culture, built upon the ubiquitous influence of the Marquis de Sade.

This is what we find in the famous book 'Story of O', for example. O. is not only used for sex. She is also subjected to various forms of SM play and cruelty. She is made to perform demeaning chores like a domestic servant and she has various forms of pain inflicted upon her for erotic purposes.

The novel is interesting because it confuses two different styles of erotic slave play. The main character is called O. because she is supposed to be an odalisque. She is modelled on the female sexual slaves of the orient known (in French) as "odalisques". But the style of play described in the novel is not oriental. The novel does not describe odalisque slavery. Instead, this O. is subjected to sado-masochistic fantasies that are typical of Marquis de Sade and belong to the eroticism of the French Revolution. The 'Story of O.' that is, is a cross-cultural work. It presents a European/French version of an oriental institution. Or, we might say, the main character is mis-named, because she is not treated like an odalisque at all. It is a European (French Revolution) fantasy that submissive females want (or need) to be pain slaves.

In Code d' Odalisque there are careful distinctions. An odalisque is a female pleasure slave. She is protected from abuse and violence. She is treated like a treasured harem slave. But the sado-masochistic themes of Marquis de Sade (historically located in the French Revolution) are not a normal part of play. Code d' Odalisque offers odalisque slavery without adaptations to French Revolution tastes, submission without sado-masochism. An odalisque under Code d' Ode, therefore, is not like O. in 'Story of O.' Instead, she is more like a true odalisque, preserved from mistreatment, used for sex and pleasure.