David sees women as helpless figures who need a man to control. “. “It will definitely be heavy soon. Letting go, as happens when you withdraw from the field of love." (Coetzee 65)” David emphasizes withdrawal from love as if women cannot have sexual love without the presence of a man. Lucy brings uncertainty to David's logic by being gay and having no male figures in his life. David quotes: “They would dare share a bed while he was in the house? If the bed creaked at night, would they feel embarrassed? Embarrassed enough to quit? But what does he know about what women do together? (10.57) David shows confusion at not knowing how enjoyable sex is without the presence of a man. Showing David's ignorance based on his sexual reasoning. He quotes: “It insists on the question of how money can live without the presence of a man.” Coetzee used David's views towards women and gender as a sign of his changing views towards women. Lucy is from the beginning a very strong woman who takes care of herself and breaks all traditional gender roles. Coetzee places emphasis on gender roles and how it relates to sexual identity. Women without a man cannot be seen as a present figure in society. They are individuals who withdraw from love. Judith Butler argues: “Saying that gender is performative is a little different because for something to be performative means that