Many of them are poor working women who have to labor hard for a living.

But they will rob themselves of necessities and needed rest to get the means to follow his demands.

Often it takes them a long time to do this, and perhaps just as they have accomplished the weary task he suddenly proclaims a new law, and all this toiling and drudging and stinting must begin over again.

In this way the unhappy creatures have never a breathing spell.

It is utterly impossible for them to conform to the new law when it is first proclaimed by the god, and so they are always struggling to keep up.
Their chains are never lifted or lightened a particle." "If the chain is so heavy why don't they break it ?" I asked impatiently.
"Because they are afraid," she replied.
"Afraid of the god ?" "No, no, child, they are afraid of each other.