But the author makes it clear that Theresa's life is one of consummate passivity and emotional impotence. Theresa's illusory control is threatened when a decent and sensitive man falls in love with her. But any action is beyond Theresa. Finally, temporarily estranged from James, Theresa goes to a bar and picks up her last man. Committing the ultimate passive act, she gets herself killed.
Passivity is a theme that has been dealt with much of late.
Erica Jong explored that emotional disease in women whose pathology is not only similar to cancer's but whose morbidity is greater. Judith Rossner gives passivity an added dimension of horror. She anatomizes its growth, step by chilling step, showing how it can be as effective a means of suicide as poison or a gun. Men may focus on the book's sexuality. It is a noble genre.