Venus in Furs

Severin is a wealthy young man and a friend to the narrator. Based on the opening scenes, the narrator is close to Severin, and they meet often to discuss their lives and philosophies. When the narrator explains his dream to Severin, Severin takes it seriously, indicating the weight of his experiences with Wanda as recorded in Confessions of a Supersensual Man. Severin’s insistence on his “supersensual” nature highlights his desire to be superior to others, even as he wants to be subjugated by a woman like Wanda. However, in the present, he rejects his supposed supersensuality, favoring violence to force women to submit to him, reflecting the changes he undergoes on his journey with Wanda.

Though Severin is the protagonist of the work, he is not a traditional hero. From one perspective, the novella is Severin’s journey to discover his sexuality, which is how Severin views his manuscript. The lesson Severin takes from his story is misogynistic—he ultimately sees all women as demons who need to be forced into submission. However, Severin’s insistence on being Wanda’s “slave” and his repeated decisions to ignore Wanda’s disinterest and threats of violence obscure Severin’s sincerity in his reflection.