2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Christopher has never had sex with a woman where she was beneath him, damaged by the memory of his mother’s sexual assault in prison. Damien had a similar sexual phobia resulting from his mistreatment in Newgate. Do these revelations offer general insights about men’s sexual tendencies or are they unique to these characters? What’s your takeaway?

Christopher and Damien were both young and sexually abused for a long time. If they had not has some problems after that experience I would have been shocked.

The fact that they were both so young and sexually abused for so long, I would have been surprised if they had not had issues.

Considering that both Christopher and Dorian were sexually abused in prison, it is not at all surprising that they have issues. In fact, their willingness to even enter into sexual relationships is surprising. Dorian was actually celibate before Farah's return and Christopher isn't exactly a womanizer.

Great points, all!

Their sexual issues just made me think about other men in general. Considering the sexual molestation debacle in the Catholic Church, I wonder what the impact is going to be long term in the world as a whole when you think about the magnitude. Damien and Christopher weren’t in a minority.

Just made me think about the implications illustrated by their abuse experiences.

It was a bit odd to me that the very posture the boys must have assumed to be molested was the same that Argent insisted upon to have "impersonal" sex with women. The point that he would never look into another's eyes was mixed up in that, but I don't know which end of yarn would unravel the complete tale here. At least we know he felt if a prostitute wanted to get away from him during the act, she could, and he held himself to the standard of never raping women.

I did feel so sad for these Newgate boys who grew to manhood without any decent male role models.

I hadn’t thought of that, Charlene.