The layers of power in Oum El Hassen's story

As I continue writing The Ogress of Fez, the theme of power remains central. Power shapes every aspect of Oum El Hassen’s life, from her role as a madame to her complex relationship with the French colonial authorities. In this story, power is rarely straightforward. It exists in layers, influencing identity in ways that are sometimes obvious and, at other times, quietly insidious. Oum’s character is defined by the tension between her internal and external power. As a madame, she holds significant control over the women who work for her, dictating their fates and managing the brothel’s operation. Yet, this authority is constantly undermined by the presence of the colonial regime. Oum aligns herself with the French, serving as an informant, but this allegiance comes with its own consequences. The more she tries to assert her power, the more she becomes entangled in a system that ultimately sees her as expendable.

Her identity as an outsider plays a crucial role in how power manifests in her life. Born in Algeria, she is neither fully accepted by Moroccan society nor by the French colonial elite. This sense of being caught between worlds adds another layer of complexity to her character. Oum’s ability to wield power within the brothel contrasts sharply with her inability to escape the constraints placed on her by the colonial authorities.

In writing these dynamics, I’ve found myself drawn to moments where Oum's power is tested. Her control over the women in her care reflects a desire for autonomy in a world that continually seeks to strip it from her. But it’s a fragile power, often expressed through acts of violence or manipulation. The tension between being in control and feeling powerless underpins many of her decisions, revealing a character whose actions are shaped by both her environment and her internal conflicts.

This interplay between power and identity, particularly within the confines of a brothel in colonial Morocco, speaks to larger questions about survival, self-perception, and moral ambiguity. Oum wields power over others, but she is also a product of a world that has limited her options. Her journey is not just one of authority, but of grappling with what it means to be both powerful and powerless in the same breath.