Character Relationship Map: Harem

Characters

• Diane (played by Nastassja Kinski) — protagonist

  Diane is a haughty Wall Street floor trader who initially has no romantic interests. She is drugged, kidnapped, and taken to Selim’s harem, where she strongly protests her situation. As she and Selim...

• Selim (played by Ben Kingsley) — supporting

  Selim is the ruler of an oil-rich Gulf country who has been tracking Diane before arranging for her to be drugged and brought to his harem. He falls in love with Diane, while a series of events forces...

• Zelide (played by Juliette Simpson) — supporting

  Zelide is one of the women in Selim’s palace. She explains to Diane that the women wait for the prince and that their futures are largely decided for them. Her explanation helps Diane understand the r...

• Judy (played by Rosanne Katon) — minor

  Judy is Diane’s acquaintance in New York. She talks with Diane about a wedding and the caterer that has already been paid, placing Diane’s kidnapping against the ordinary plans and relationships she i...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Selim → Zelide (Power Ruler And Subject) — Selim holds power over the women’s lives in the palace, a tradition that Diane challenges.

  Zelide explains that the women in the palace wait for Selim and that their futures are largely decided for them. Selim says the women are part of his...

• Diane → Selim (Romantic Captor Turned Lover) — Their connection develops from Diane’s abduction and resistance to mutual affection, while Selim’s inherited customs and control over the women remain a source of conflict.

  Diane is drugged and taken to Selim’s harem, and the plot describes them growing close and falling in love. They discuss their fears and choices, but...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Diane → Judy (Social Acquaintances) — Their conversation about wedding arrangements is part of Diane’s ordinary New York life before her ordeal.

  Judy talks with Diane about a wedding and its already-paid caterer.

• Diane → Zelide (Social Informant And Fellow Harem Resident) — Zelide gives Diane information about the women’s situation and the palace’s customs after Diane arrives.

  Zelide explains to Diane that the women in the palace wait for Selim and that their futures are largely decided for them.

Story Analysis

Diane’s captivity brings her into a relationship with Selim and forces both to confront inherited power, constrained choices, and uncertain futures.

Plot Progression

1. New York Plans Disrupted — Diane prepares to move and discusses ordinary plans with Judy. After leaving a church and missing a boat, she accepts a ride that leads into an ordeal far from home.
2. Captive in the Desert Palace — Diane discovers she has been taken to a secluded palace and protests her captivity. Zelide explains the women’s constrained lives and their connection to Selim.
3. Desire and Inherited Power — Diane and Selim speak openly and grow close, while Diane challenges his acceptance of tradition. Selim’s obligations beyond the palace expose the conflict between inherited customs and changing needs.
4. The Last Night — Selim returns and faces Diane’s questions about his absence and the women’s treatment. His proposed final ceremony leads to a tender but unresolved discussion of their possible futures apart.