The setting is somewhere in Persia between 500 and 400 BC. at the palace of King Ashuerus in Susa. Queen Vashti was deposed for disobeying a direct order to appear and perform before the drunken quests of the somewhat "merry with wine" king. This sets the stage for a story of excess, irony, setbacks and a captive Jew who would become queen and savior of a nation. Mentored by her cousin and guardian Mordecai, Esther guides the reader through a tale of intrigue that delivers a people to the brink of annihilation, culminating in the celebration of deliverance that exists to the present day. Although the characters are colorful and information about the reason behind their actions is often lacking, the author's fast-paced plot serves to support and move events forward toward the ultimate celebration. King Ashauerus may have been the envy of the world with a kingdom capable of withstanding a 187-day Feast. Everything had to go well, with no more nations to conquer and all the citizens content to be his subjects. It was during one of these festive evenings that he summoned his queen, sending seven eunuchs to fetch her so that she could show off her beauty while wearing her favorite crown. We don't know why a king would want his queen to display her national treasures to a group of drunken politicians, but it took initiative to move the story forward. Queen Vashti, who is having her own party with the women, decides she has no desire to leave her guests. Bechtel wants us to consider that excess can very well be perceived as abundance. However, as soon as the author employs seven eunuchs sent to fetch a person, we know that excesses are rather the rule than the exception. To our knowledge,...... middle of paper ......ngs in the palace, the king's signet ring and written edicts illustrating power, feasts and more feasts. However, it is the holiday of Purim that symbolizes the point of the story. It is ironic that the story begins with a feast of the Persians for unknown reasons and ends with a feast of the Jews celebrating their rescue from annihilation. The plot works with or without theological inference. Works Cited Bechtel, Carol M. Interpretation, A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, Esther. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press. 2012. PrintFox, Michael V. Character and Ideology in the Book of Esther. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press. 1991. PrintMoore, Carey A. Esther. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company Inc. 1971. PrintHarrelson, Walter J. General Editor. The New Interpreters Study Bible. Nashville TN: Abington Press, 2003. Print.