The Sea Hawk · Chapter
The Slave Market explained
In the slave market of Algiers, Ali-Reis purchases slaves for Sakr-el-Bahr, including Lionel Tressilian for a low price.
What happens
In the slave market of Algiers, Ali-Reis purchases slaves for Sakr-el-Bahr, including Lionel Tressilian for a low price. A Spanish girl is sold to a Jew but stabs herself to avoid enslavement, inspiring Rosamund with thoughts of suicide as an escape.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance
Lionel's weak appearance leads to a low price, contrasting with his true worth, while the Spanish girl's beauty masks her desperate resolve.
Fate and Free Will
The dalal invokes 'what is written' to justify the Jew's loss, while the Spanish girl exercises free will through suicide.
Characters to notice
- Ali
Ali-Reis purchases slaves for Sakr-el-Bahr, negotiating prices and buying Lionel Tressilian.
- Master Lionel Tressilian
Lionel is stripped, examined, and sold cheaply to Ali for the galleys.
- Mistress Rosamund Godolphin
Rosamund watches the slave market, horrified by the Spanish girl's fate, and considers suicide as a way out.
- Ibrahim
A Jewish buyer who purchases the Spanish girl but loses his money when she kills herself.
- The Spaniard
An Andalusian girl who stabs herself to avoid enslavement, inspiring Rosamund.
Key passages
“Two hundred philips for the twain.”
Ali offers two hundred philips for two slaves.
Opening bid for the Nubian slaves.
“She is dead! I am defrauded. Give me back my gold!”
Ibrahim protests that the Spanish girl's death cheats him of his payment.
Ibrahim's reaction to the suicide.