The Piano

I think Baines and Ada’s relationship in the film is technically considered rape by definition, but in the sense of the film does not entirely feel that way. As the film is told through Ada’s point of view, and she is married to a man she does not know and does not connect with, you cannot help but see her connection with Baines as ok. Over the course of the film, Baines does lure her into him by using the piano as bait, but the relationship eventually becomes consensual. It is because of her will to go back to him that it is hard to consider what he did as rape because Ada now feels for him, and wants to be with him. The only problem is that she is married to Stewart, making the relationship unlawful. Adding to Ada’s desire to be with Baines, in the scene where she is caressing Stewart’s back, she pulls away when he goes for her accentuating the point of view of the film. She has been forced to marry this man that she feels nothing with, and seeing the film from her perspective, her connection with Stewart is definitely not consensual. Her connection with Baines however is eventually seen as something to be desired.