Themes and message

Dominance and sexuality

The theme of dominance and sexuality is subtly explored throughout Samuel Wilkinsthe's story, “Self Defense”, in the context of prison life but also in general.

Daniel is presented as a stereotypical dominant male. He is a self-confident risk taker, unconcerned with the consequences of his actions and unemotional. He feels entitled to get what he wants: freedom, sex, and money.

Daniel’s toughness allows him to dominate in prison as well, as he provides protection for Norman, who is depicted as a weaker man. Norman is fine with being dominated by Daniel, and he also follows Daniel's plan to escape from prison and reach the Golf of Mexico.

Norman is also more in touch with his feelings than Daniel– during the story, he reflects on his relationship with Daniel and on his emotions towards their old life and the new life he hopes they will have. They are both heterosexual, but their circumstances (being imprisoned) bring them together and they have a homosexual relationship, which Norman himself states he would not have thought possible outside of prison. This alludes to a common practice in prison, where heterosexual inmates often engage in sexual relationships with same-sex inmates.

This, however, happens for many reasons, not only for pleasure or love. In the story, it is suggested that, although Norman loves Daniel, Daniel does not love him back or does not know how to exp...