I finished reading Venus in Furs tonight.

It's left me thinking about alot of things--about the Oedepal component of male masochism; about Sacher-Masoch's claim that a woman can either be a slave or a despot but not a companion unless she is equal in rights, education and work.

I think, to some degree or another, that women will always be either slave or despot...or, as oftentimes in my case, mother or mistress. Being an equal is nearly impossible because of alot of mitigating circumstances in the human condition.

So, I know I can find intellectual equals and that I don't like intellectual inferiors, even if I can skillfully manipulate them. What's the fun or challenge in that?

And I know I'd prefer a man who better socially situated than I am, but would that then make me *his* slave? That, in particular, is a role I am certainly not suited for.

As for finding an equal....well, if the mitigating circumstances can be considered complimentary, then it is a situation I could deal very well with.

For now, though, I'll settle for the Oeds in my life--they're great guys.

Overall, though, the book has indeed left me alot to think about.