The metaphor doesn’t even make sense, assuming it’s about sex. If the burning branch represents virginity, then it would be possible to pay a girl to free the boy from the branch, but it would not be possible for another girl to put him under again. If the branch represents “having regular sex”, then it would be possible for a girl to put him under the branch again, but it would also mean that the girl given the gold nugget has to be given a continuous stream of gold nuggets or she would also put the boy under the branch again.
Also, dragging someone under the burning branch to free yourself doesn’t make sense even as rape. Rapists do not turn other people into virgins.
Extreme matriarchal community with slavery somewhat like in Rome (some men earn freedom, most don’t, discussing it at all i taboo). Sex in itself is secondary.
The metaphor doesn’t even make sense, assuming it’s about sex. If the burning branch represents virginity, then it would be possible to pay a girl to free the boy from the branch, but it would not be possible for another girl to put him under again. If the branch represents “having regular sex”, then it would be possible for a girl to put him under the branch again, but it would also mean that the girl given the gold nugget has to be given a continuous stream of gold nuggets or she would also put the boy under the branch again.
Also, dragging someone under the burning branch to free yourself doesn’t make sense even as rape. Rapists do not turn other people into virgins.
So don’t assume it’s about sex. The author stated as much.
Extreme matriarchal community with slavery somewhat like in Rome (some men earn freedom, most don’t, discussing it at all i taboo). Sex in itself is secondary.