Abuse of Power and Exploitation

• "And the second steward keeps winking at me. He and the cook are a bloody disgrace; just see the look on the galley boy's face!"- Lascars' Song


  It was common for lower ranking sailors to be sexually assulted by higher ups, as the crew were away from society for months at a time.
• "Signed with Scot's Navy for four years of slavery" - Lascars' Song


  Oxymoronic; it is not possible to willingly be a slave. This deatils how badly lascars were treated, yet their compliancy shows desperation for work.
• "No written contact, you understand?" - Susan Matthews

  Mrs Matthews used Rani for her labour and then disposed of her after she was not needed anymore. She lied to Rani, taking advantage of her desperation for work and leading her to believe she would have a job in England, yet she knew all along she would fire her.
• "Let me look after you, care for you! I can make your life here very comfortable" - Lord Oakham

  Lord Oakham exploits Rani by putting false promises in her head, in exchange for sexual intercourse.
• "I have no interest of what becomes of you and your bastard child" - Lord Oakham

  After Lord Oakham impregnates Rani, she becomes used goods in his eyes. He does away with her and others his own unborn child.
• "Some bloke got you into trouble then dumped you? Promised you the world did he?" -Firoza

  Rani's naivety and vunerability were taken advantage of in order for Lord Oakham to satisfy his own sexual fetishes. After impregnating her, Rani is discarded by him and left to fend for herself and the baby.
• "You girls. I try to help but you never learn." -Georgina


  The plural "girls" implies that Rani is not the the first girl Lord Oakham has taken advantage of. Yet, the blame is placed on the each of the girls instead of the common problem in all of their cases: Lord Oakham>