What would drive a man to willingly sacrifice his manhood? Put simply, poverty. The large proportion of eunuchs came from poor families, whose desperate parents arranged the operation to offer the chance of a comfortable life in the palace. Some people made this decision themselves as adults. If they were accepted into the palace they would be given food, clothes and a guaranteed home for the rest of their lives, and the lucky few had the chance to become rich and influential beyond their wildest imagination. However, many more eunuchs applied to the palace than were taken in.
