Life in the Seraglio

One of the themes that develops in this novel is the very sheltered lives that Usbek's wives lived in the seraglio. It is indicated that these women were guarded from male contact until they met their husband. They were kept confined in a home, referred to as a seraglio, and guarded by eunuchs. These eunuchs were men who had been castrated, usually at a young age. Because they were castrated, these men had no sexual interest in women. Therefore, the women's husbands could trust these men to guard their wives without becoming sexually involved with them. These ladies are never allowed outside their homes without being completely covered, including a veil over their face, and without a eunuch guard. Information in the letters indicates that if other men were even to get too close to a vehicle carrying one of these ladies, the eunuchs had...