# Gender Roles and Power in The Perfume of Eros

> Theme guide for The Perfume of Eros by Edgar Saltus.

Women are portrayed as objects of desire and social ambition, while men hold economic and social power, dictating the terms of relationships and leaving women vulnerable to abandonment and disgrace.

## Where it surfaces

- [V: Marie Changes Her Name](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/v-marie-changes-her-name): Marie's submissive role and Loftus's control over her name, actions, and social life reflect the power imbalance between men and women.
- [I: Disenchantment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/i-disenchantment): Marie's powerlessness as a woman in a relationship with a man who controls the narrative of their future is evident. She is trapped by societal expectations and her own infatuation.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/themes/gender_roles_and_power
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/themes