Veiled Women · Chapter
XIV explained
Barakah's illness and recovery deepen Fitnah Khânum's love for her, while Yûsuf and Muhammad Pasha's attempt to appease the English Consul backfires.
What happens
Barakah's illness and recovery deepen Fitnah Khânum's love for her, while Yûsuf and Muhammad Pasha's attempt to appease the English Consul backfires. Ghandûr's grief over Barakah's condition leads to a harem uproar when the ladies are denied access to her sickroom by the Frankish doctor's orders, highlighting the tension between traditional female care and modern medical authority.
Themes in this chapter
Female Friendship and Solidarity
Fitnah Khânum's love for Barakah deepens during her illness, and the harem ladies unite in indignation when barred from the sickroom, showing strong bonds of female care and collective resistance.
Colonialism and Imperial Power
The English Consul's casual dismissal of Muhammad Pasha's efforts reveals the unequal power relationship, where the Pasha must spend heavily to appease a consul who ultimately claims no stake.
Superstition and Tradition
Fitnah Khânum's reliance on charms, garlic, and a donkey's thighbone for healing, and her view of the Frankish doctor as a heartless infidel, highlight the tension between traditional remedies and modern medicine.
Characters to notice
- Fitnah Khânum
Initially foretold Barakah's death, but upon her recovery grows to love her deeply, eclipsing her love for Yûsuf. She leads the harem's indignation when denied access to Barakah's sickroom.
- Yûsuf Bey
Haggard but joyful at Barakah's recovery; he and his father are disconcerted when the English Consul dismisses their visit, claiming no concern in the matter.
- Muhammad Pasha Sâlih
Flushes with anger when the Consul feigns indifference, having spent heavily on Barakah's care and the planned Paris trip; curses the Consul in frustration.
- Ghandûr
Blaming himself for Barakah's illness, he delivers the summons for the Frankish doctor and later pours out his grief to Fitnah Khânum, defending Barakah's innocence.
- Murjânah Khânum
Accompanies Fitnah Khânum to the pleasure-house and is incensed by the refusal of admittance, yet keeps the harem secret from the Pasha.
- Gulbeyzah
Included in the carriage to visit Barakah because 'our poor sick darling always loved her.'
Key passages
“Consume the Consul!”
Curse the Consul!
Fitnah Khânum's angry exclamation upon learning of the Consul's influence over the Pasha's decisions.
“Our pearl of pearls to be exposed to vulgar handling, to be cast back into the mire from which she was with pains extracted!”
Our most precious treasure to be subjected to common treatment, thrown back into the lowly state from which she was so carefully lifted!
Yûsuf's mother's horrified reaction to the planned Paris trip, fearing Barakah will be exposed to public view.
“I altogether fail to see how this concerns me, though highly honoured by your visit and your confidence.”
I don't see why this is any of my business, though I'm flattered you came to tell me.
The English Consul's dismissive response to Muhammad Pasha and Yûsuf, undermining their efforts to appease him.
“The sickroom had been woman's temple from of old.”
The sickroom had always been a sacred space for women.
Narrative commentary on the traditional role of women in caring for the ill, which the Frankish doctor's orders violated.
