All of the major characters in The Key to Rebecca are defined in terms of their sexuality. William Vandam and Alex Wolff differ not only in their national loyalties, but also in the way they relate to women.

Vandam had married a woman of great beauty and personal strength who unfortunately possessed very little warmth of character. Despite the shallowness of her affection for him, he remained faithful to her memory long after her death. During the course of events in The Key to Rebecca, he finally falls in love for a second time, in this case with a woman of deeper passions, and becomes dedicated to improving her lot in life.

Wolff, on the other hand, uses women only for his personal pleasure and has no sense of fidelity or genuine love. He delights in dominating his women, and in lovemaking he prefers the unusual and the...