Well, du Preez's project is a different one—homiletic and theological, which was not the project here.  I disagree, as you do, on a few points, but he is allowed to put whatever template he chooses over the story as Bible study as long as he doesn't insist that his interpretation is the only right one.  I think he gets tangled in his attempt to distinguish "obedience" from "compliance," and although there is a significant distinction, I'm not sure he finds it.  Also: the six months of cleansing enforced on Esther, et al, was not an issue of lipstick and mascara, but were gynecological lavages, which is what myrrh was commonly used for—the harim managers had to be sure that none of these women were pregnant (or sick) in some way not pleasing to the court; accusing Esther of being overly concerned with how she looked is off the point, here, and distorting the story.  Thank you for sending me to this; I feel as though I can skip church this Sabbath, now . . . .