[jonrick46]

I have not seen the movie. I agree that Hagar was serving in the role as Sarah’s handmaiden. However, she was purchased in Egypt for that purpose.

[nopardons]

Yes, she was purchased, but Hagar was never a "slave" in the way that that word usually is thought of.

The book was better than the movie. :-)

[Miss Marple]

I have read about all of this thread but skipped a bit in the middle. If someone has pointed this out already, I apologize.

Another explanation (which might apply because he was an English major) comes from the novel Moby Dick. Ishmael is the only character who survives the sinking of the ship, and is the narrator of the story. It's been decades since I read that book, but it was full of allusions to the Bible and I do remember that it was pointed out in the class that Ishmael was an outcast.