# XVIII explained — Veiled Women

> Chapter companion for Veiled Women by Marmaduke Pickthall.

## What happens

Barakah returns from Paris to Cairo, re-embraces harem life, and reveals her pregnancy to the household, leading to widespread celebration and her eventual delivery of a son.

## Themes in this chapter

### Female Friendship and Solidarity

The harem women form a close-knit society, sharing possessions and children, and Barakah is embraced by them.

### Motherhood and Legacy

Barakah's pregnancy and birth of a son are celebrated as a blessing, securing her place in the household.

### Cultural Clash and Identity

Barakah rejects Frankish talk, embraces Oriental habits, and the women contrast Parisian and Egyptian customs.

## Character check-ins

### Barakah

Returns from Paris, conceals then reveals her pregnancy, gives birth to a son.

### Yûsuf Bey

Vaunts Paris to Ghandûr, circulates news of Barakah's pregnancy, regains Barakah's good opinion.

### Fitnah Khânum

Overjoyed at Barakah's pregnancy, sends messengers to Yûsuf and the Pasha.

### Bedr-ul-Budûr

Also pregnant, visits Barakah, plans to purify herself after Paris.

### Gulbeyzah

Married and in the country, later visits Barakah, extols fellow-wives.

### Amînah Khânum

Brings Bedr-ul-Budûr to Barakah, advises on pregnancy, procures Frankish doctor and Mufti's judgment.

### Murjânah Khânum

Sends a robe of honour and invites Barakah to supper; has been unwell.

### Ghandûr

Weeps with joy at return, intones a song for twin boys, looks after the women.

## Key lines

> She would have been completely happy in those days but for embarrassment arising from a secret which she longed yet feared to tell. She was with child.

Barakah's happiness is shadowed by her secret pregnancy, which she hesitates to reveal.

_Highlights Barakah's internal conflict between joy and shame._

> From the cries of jubilation filling all the house, from the blessings showered on her within the chamber, she knew that she had borne a son.

The household's joyful cries and blessings confirm to Barakah that she has given birth to a son.

_Emphasizes the communal celebration of the birth._

> The four together formed a charming small society, quite independent of the husband’s humours and the outside world. All their possessions they enjoyed in common, even children.

The four co-wives create a self-sufficient, harmonious community, sharing everything including children.

_Illustrates the theme of female solidarity in polygamy._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xviii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/veiled_women_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters