For this week's reading, I chose Arabian Nights. I have wanted to read it for a while and I am glad I am finally getting a chance to start it.
Arabian Nights retold by Andrew Lang
In this story, a Sultan, Schahriar, is betrayed by his wife. Because of this, he hates women and marries one each day and has her killed in the morning. His grand-vizir is in charge of providing the women, against his will. One of his daughters, Scheherazade, vows to put an end to this and has her father choose her as the Sultan's next bride.
That night, she begins a story and ensures to leave it unfinished in the morning so that the Sultan will spare her in order to hear the rest of the story the next night. However, whenever she finishes one story, she starts another so that he continues to spare her in order to hear her stories.
One thing I noticed was that often times, Scheherazade's stories have something to do with someone being treated unfairly or being threatened with death, as she is. Her first story is about a merchant who is threatened with death by a genie. We see in her story that the merchant is a good man, however, the genie is still going to kill him if not for three men who come and tell stories, much like Scheherazade is doing to save the other women.
Next, we see a fisherman also threatened unfairly by a genie until he tricks it and then tells it a story, which includes another story. Each one keeping Scheherazade alive longer and keeping the theme of unfair death and punishment.
Here is a picture of Scheherazade telling her stories to Schahriar with the help of her sister:
Arabian Nights retold by Andrew Lang
In this story, a Sultan, Schahriar, is betrayed by his wife. Because of this, he hates women and marries one each day and has her killed in the morning. His grand-vizir is in charge of providing the women, against his will. One of his daughters, Scheherazade, vows to put an end to this and has her father choose her as the Sultan's next bride.
That night, she begins a story and ensures to leave it unfinished in the morning so that the Sultan will spare her in order to hear the rest of the story the next night. However, whenever she finishes one story, she starts another so that he continues to spare her in order to hear her stories.
One thing I noticed was that often times, Scheherazade's stories have something to do with someone being treated unfairly or being threatened with death, as she is. Her first story is about a merchant who is threatened with death by a genie. We see in her story that the merchant is a good man, however, the genie is still going to kill him if not for three men who come and tell stories, much like Scheherazade is doing to save the other women.
Next, we see a fisherman also threatened unfairly by a genie until he tricks it and then tells it a story, which includes another story. Each one keeping Scheherazade alive longer and keeping the theme of unfair death and punishment.
Here is a picture of Scheherazade telling her stories to Schahriar with the help of her sister:
Photo Credit: flickr
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