Salim is highly aware of race and ethnicity, a fascination that is rooted in personal insecurity as well as the social importance of fidelity to one’s ethnicity that Salim experiences throughout the novel. Zabeth’s power, in this case seen by many as pseudo-magical, comes from her performance of her identity. She accentuates the striking and uncommon aspects of her appearance with ointments and affect, and thereby exercises power. By perceiving this aspect of her identity, Salim feels her “charm” work on him as well, showing the connection between identity performance and personal power or freedom.