Kiss the Villain

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of sexual content, graphic violence, cursing, child abuse, and death.

Gareth’s white room is a recurring symbol within the narrative that contributes to the theme of The Relief of Establishing Power Dynamics. For Gareth, the white room is a metaphysical space and a state of mind where he is allowed to find peace from his impulses. As a symbol, therefore, the white room operates as a marker of calm but also of stability, wherein Gareth feels balanced and does not fear the actions of his own person. 

Its barren, white walls are also significant as they come to represent simplicity. The room is without color or noise, providing a sensation of sensory deprivation, wherein Gareth is no longer under the onslaught of his impulses or what he calls his “demons.” Kent makes this especially clear when Gareth is being tortured, and his white room reflects his response to the violence, “dripping in crimson no matter how much [he wipes] the walls” (276). This disruption of his calm, safe space is echoed in the real world as he loses control and inflicts harm upon himself, unable to resolve his conflicting feelings about Kayden. Kent implies that Gareth finds it very difficult to achieve this state of mind, as the only notable instance where he accessed it outside of his relationship with Kayden is when he avenged Harper and killed her father. Murder and violence, therefore, are what he associates most with this space before he encounters Kayden. Within the context of the dominant-submissive relationship, however, not only can Gareth attain this state more often but, by the end of the narrative, he can do so seemingly at Kayden’s command: “The white room is closed now, locked. Not even bloodied like it used to be. I don’t have access to it anymore, because Kayden has the keys” (352). His relinquishment of control over the white room parallels the relief he feels when he gives control of their relationship over to Kayden.