MovieChat Forums > Damage (1993) Discussion > Was Anna Raped by Her Father?

Was Anna Raped by Her Father?


I wonder if Anna was raped by her father.

She tends to repeat cycles in her life, choosing Martyn because he looks exactly like her brother (as expressed by Anna's mother), and returning to Peter whenever her life falls apart.

However, I could never understand why Anna initially pursued Martyn's father so feverishly. She seemed hell bent on destruction right from the start. Also choosing marriage with Martyn, while determined to keep the affair with his father going at all costs.

But why would she need sex so desperately with the father of her brother's lookalike? If this was part of the cycle that she experienced in childhood, then it would make sense that she'd pursue the 'father' (Stephen), of her 'brother' (Martyn), to make the illusion feel complete. Also, it would be inevitable for Martyn to experience a tragic end (as did her brother), and for the father to go away.

It was also implied there was incest in Anna's family, plus she was deeply troubled. Add to that, Anna's mother had difficulties with her many husbands. Any thoughts? Were there any hints of this in the book?

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absolutely not.
Damage is an excellent book- you will find the answers in it.

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Not everyone wants to read the book. Why comment at all if you're going to be vague?

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Curiosity will make one read the book...or not. Some answers to this film can only be found there. Gets tedious to explain a book's meaning to others. Just read it. lol.

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