Your response is well-considered and much appreciated. An excellent counter-argument to my opinions. I could probably ultimately be convinced to settle on a position that is somewhere in the middle.Good post. I enjoyed reading it. I have no idea what the colours of the days mean either.
I don't agree that any opportunities have been missed with eroticism in not having Monica internally liking or wanting sex. In my opinion the eroticism of the game comes from the escalation of the acts Monica takes part in. There is a definite gradual arc of her normalising her new life, not of her enjoying it. She is in no way a sex maniac and that is the point. She will endure what she needs too if it will, as she believes, enable her to gain her power and position in society back. (or earn $10)
Many would agree with you in wanting a Monica who becomes sex mad( Or even just liking sex) from what she is going through but in my view that would ruin the game. Its Monica's attitude to life and the people around her that separates this game from the crowd. Her attitude of contempt of the people she is engaging with as she performs more lewd acts followed by even more lewd acts misses no opportunities of eroticism. The eroticism I find in the game is the escalation and Monica's improvement through experience with sex acts e.g.,deeper blowjobs, anal, dp's.
The game does show her attitude change. A good example of her internal mind having been affected from her new life, is her enthusiasm of the alcohol being offered at the latest Campbell public event. Comparing her attitude from the first Campbell party for instance illustrates how her morality has changed towards it, as it has for many other things. She just has never wanted or liked sex.(I don't want to use the A word) I don't believe her keeping these traits throughout, harms the game. I believe they improve it.
This post, like yours was for you, just my opinion. Happy to disagree.
I don't actually think she is truly a sex maniac. Indeed, she openly hates most of the activities she participates in. However, her outward actions do seem to mirror the activities of someone who is a maniac. And yes, that is part of her interesting internal conflict. But I honestly don't think any real person would go the extremes that Monica does in achieving personal goals without some kind of sexual / psychological pathology gradually setting in.
I would still like to see a more reflective & slightly erotic variety in her internal dialog. But not to the detriment of the game arc, as you rightly pointed out.
Another interesting, but unrelated, theme in this game is personal fulfillment despite non-acquisition of material assets. Monica is gradually achieving greater influence & control in her world, while still living in slums / hostel / shared apartment / basement room, i.e. poverty. That is also improbable, but fascinating. It would be very cool if Monica could some day achieve all of her tactical goals while still living in slums. That would possibly signify that she had achieved a kind of ultimate liberty, in addition to the moral liberty that she is unwittingly moving towards.
Reminds me a little of John Berger's comments (Ways of Seeing essay) on the real nature & influence of glamour & fashion on people's worldviews. Somewhat appropriate in context of a game set in the fashion business.
(By the way, i haven't finished the game. So my opinions are limited by that.)
