I think that her mother, who probably got pregnant by accident and out of wedlock, and who was poor and didn't make much effort to raise her well, sold her into slavery as a child. She was an Odalisque, not by her own choice, thus the reason why she ran away.
The references to rape and beating are probably referring to what will happen to her when the speaker catches her.
I think that her mother, who probably got pregnant by accident and out of wedlock, and who was poor and didn't make much effort to raise her well, sold her into slavery as a child. She was an Odalisque, not by her own choice, thus the reason why she ran away. The references to rape and beating are probably referring to what will happen to her when the speaker catches her.