In his student days, he used to argue that if a woman has no other course open to her but starvation, prostitution, or throwing herself from a bridge, then surely the prostitute, who has shown the most tenacious instinct for self-preservation, should be considered stronger and saner than her frailer and no longer living sisters. One couldn't have it both ways, he'd pointed out: if women are seduced and abandoned they're supposed to go mad, but if they survive, and seduce in their turn, then they were mad to begin with.
In his discussions during his college years, the protagonist argued that women facing dire situations, such as starvation or worse, should be viewed through a different lens. He believed that those who turn to prostitution in order to survive are exhibiting a strong survival instinct, making them more resilient than those who succumb to despair. This perspective challenges traditional views of women in hardship, suggesting a reconsideration of their actions and motivations.
The protagonist pointed out the inconsistency in societal judgments about women. When women are seduced and abandoned, society often labels them as unstable or mad. However, if they turn their circumstances around and engage in seduction themselves as a means of survival, they are perceived as having been irrational from the start. This duality highlights the complexities of women's experiences and societal perceptions, emphasizing the need for a more nuanced understanding.
