The Gilded Cage (Esther's Story)

On the surface the book of Esther reads as a fable of sorts, filled with drama, suspense and a happy ending. However, keeping in mind that it was written under the rulership and scrutiny of the Persian king, care had to be taken to tell the story without offending sensibilities. A secret tradition passed down orally tells the real story. The following has been drawn from our rich tradition of the Talmud, Midrash and commentaries through the ages.