Preliminary matters: locating LXX Esther and Defining the approach -- dreams, dragons, deference, and the cosmic contest for hegemonic masculinity -- breaking the surface of consent: masculine imperial power and vashts defiance -- attempts at stabilizing the masculine imperial order: responses to vashtis defiance -- mordecais defiance: another challenge to artaxerxes hegemonic masculinity and the severe imperial response -- subordinate transcripts of negotiation and Esthers progression to become gods representative --preparing the table: Esthers first negotiation with artaxerxes -- Esthers second and third acts of negotation with artaxerxes: the mimicry of succers.