The Arabian Nights
by Andrew Lang · from The Arabian Nights Entertainments
Adapted Version
Long ago, a strong king lived. His name was Sultan Schahriar. He ruled a very big land. People liked him. He was a good king.
But his wife made him very sad. She was not kind to him. Sultan Schahriar felt much pain. He was very angry. He sent her away. He never saw her again.
He thought all women would make him sad. So he made a bad rule. He would marry a new wife each night. He would send her away next day. He never saw her again. This made him very sad.
The people were very sad. They were also very scared. Many girls were sent away. All people cried much.
The Grand-Vizir worked for the Sultan. He had two daughters. Their names were Scheherazade and Dinarzade. Scheherazade was very clever. She was also very pretty. Dinarzade was kind.
Scheherazade wanted to stop the sad rule. She was very brave. She talked to her father. "Father," she said. "I want to marry the Sultan." She wanted to help girls.
The Grand-Vizir was very scared. "This is a bad idea!" he said. He did not want her to go. Scheherazade was not afraid. She wanted to help.
Grand-Vizir was still afraid. But he said, "Yes." He told the Sultan. The Sultan was surprised. He said, "Yes."
Scheherazade had a plan. She told Dinarzade. "Ask me for a story. Ask before sunrise." Dinarzade said, "Yes, I will."
That night, Scheherazade went. She asked the Sultan. "Can Dinarzade sleep here?" The Sultan said, "Yes."
Later, Dinarzade woke up. She asked her sister. "Tell me a story!" Scheherazade looked at the Sultan. She asked, "May I tell a story?" The Sultan said, "Yes."
Scheherazade began her story. She told a tale. The Sultan listened well. He wanted to know more. But the sun came up. Scheherazade stopped her story. The Sultan wanted the end. He said, "Tell me more next day!"
Original Story
The Arabian Nights
In the chronicles of the ancient dynasty of the Sassanidae, who reigned for about four hundred years, from Persia to the borders of China, beyond the great river Ganges itself, we read the praises of one of the kings of this race, who was said to be the best monarch of his time. His subjects loved him, and his neighbors feared him, and when he died he left his kingdom in a more prosperous and powerful condition than any king had done before him.
The two sons who survived him loved each other tenderly, and it was a real grief to the elder, Schahriar, that the laws of the empire forbade him to share his dominions with his brother Schahzeman. Indeed, after ten years, during which this state of things had not ceased to trouble him, Schahriar cut off the country of Great Tartary from the Persian Empire and made his brother king.
Now the Sultan Schahriar had a wife whom he loved more than all the world, and his greatest happiness was to surround her with splendour, and to give her the finest dresses and the most beautiful jewels. It was therefore with the deepest shame and sorrow that he accidentally discovered, after several years, that she had deceived him completely, and her whole conduct turned out to have been so bad, that he felt himself obliged to carry out the law of the land, and order the grand-vizir to put her to death. The blow was so heavy that his mind almost gave way, and he declared that he was quite sure that at bottom all women were as wicked as the sultana, if you could only find them out, and that the fewer the world contained the better. So every evening he married a fresh wife and had her strangled the following morning before the grand-vizir, whose duty it was to provide these unhappy brides for the Sultan. The poor man fulfilled his task with reluctance, but there was no escape, and every day saw a girl married and a wife dead.
This behaviour caused the greatest horror in the town, where nothing was heard but cries and lamentations. In one house was a father weeping for the loss of his daughter, in another perhaps a mother trembling for the fate of her child; and instead of the blessings that had formerly been heaped on the Sultan's head, the air was now full of curses.
The grand-vizir himself was the father of two daughters, of whom the elder was called Scheherazade, and the younger Dinarzade. Dinarzade had no particular gifts to distinguish her from other girls, but her sister was clever and courageous in the highest degree. Her father had given her the best masters in philosophy, medicine, history and the fine arts, and besides all this, her beauty excelled that of any girl in the kingdom of Persia.
One day, when the grand-vizir was talking to his eldest daughter, who was his delight and pride, Scheherazade said to him, "Father, I have a favour to ask of you. Will you grant it to me?"
"I can refuse you nothing," replied he, "that is just and reasonable."
"Then listen," said Scheherazade. "I am determined to stop this barbarous practice of the Sultan's, and to deliver the girls and mothers from the awful fate that hangs over them."
"It would be an excellent thing to do," returned the grand-vizir, "but how do you propose to accomplish it?"
"My father," answered Scheherazade, "it is you who have to provide the Sultan daily with a fresh wife, and I implore you, by all the affection you bear me, to allow the honour to fall upon me."
"Have you lost your senses?" cried the grand-vizir, starting back in horror. "What has put such a thing into your head? You ought to know by this time what it means to be the sultan's bride!"
"Yes, my father, I know it well," replied she, "and I am not afraid to think of it. If I fail, my death will be a glorious one, and if I succeed I shall have done a great service to my country."
"It is of no use," said the grand-vizir, "I shall never consent. If the Sultan was to order me to plunge a dagger in your heart, I should have to obey. What a task for a father! Ah, if you do not fear death, fear at any rate the anguish you would cause me."
"Once again, my father," said Scheherazade, "will you grant me what I ask?"
"What, are you still so obstinate?" exclaimed the grand-vizir. "Why are you so resolved upon your own ruin?"
But the maiden absolutely refused to attend to her father's words, and at length, in despair, the grand-vizir was obliged to give way, and went sadly to the palace to tell the Sultan that the following evening he would bring him Scheherazade.
The Sultan received this news with the greatest astonishment.
"How have you made up your mind," he asked, "to sacrifice your own daughter to me?"
"Sire," answered the grand-vizir, "it is her own wish. Even the sad fate that awaits her could not hold her back."
"Let there be no mistake, vizir," said the Sultan. "Remember you will have to take her life yourself. If you refuse, I swear that your head shall pay forfeit."
"Sire," returned the vizir. "Whatever the cost, I will obey you. Though a father, I am also your subject." So the Sultan told the grand-vizir he might bring his daughter as soon as he liked.
The vizir took back this news to Scheherazade, who received it as if it had been the most pleasant thing in the world. She thanked her father warmly for yielding to her wishes, and, seeing him still bowed down with grief, told him that she hoped he would never repent having allowed her to marry the Sultan. Then she went to prepare herself for the marriage, and begged that her sister Dinarzade should be sent for to speak to her.
When they were alone, Scheherazade addressed her thus:
"My dear sister; I want your help in a very important affair. My father is going to take me to the palace to celebrate my marriage with the Sultan. When his Highness receives me, I shall beg him, as a last favour, to let you sleep in our chamber, so that I may have your company during the last night I am alive. If, as I hope, he grants me my wish, be sure that you wake me an hour before the dawn, and speak to me in these words: 'My sister, if you are not asleep, I beg you, before the sun rises, to tell me one of your charming stories.' Then I shall begin, and I hope by this means to deliver the people from the terror that reigns over them." Dinarzade replied that she would do with pleasure what her sister wished.
When the usual hour arrived the grand-vizir conducted Scheherazade to the palace, and left her alone with the Sultan, who bade her raise her veil and was amazed at her beauty. But seeing her eyes full of tears, he asked what was the matter. "Sire," replied Scheherazade, "I have a sister who loves me as tenderly as I love her. Grant me the favour of allowing her to sleep this night in the same room, as it is the last we shall be together." Schahriar consented to Scheherazade's petition and Dinarzade was sent for.
An hour before daybreak Dinarzade awoke, and exclaimed, as she had promised, "My dear sister, if you are not asleep, tell me I pray you, before the sun rises, one of your charming stories. It is the last time that I shall have the pleasure of hearing you."
Scheherazade did not answer her sister, but turned to the Sultan. "Will your highness permit me to do as my sister asks?" said she.
"Willingly," he answered. So Scheherazade began.
Story DNA
Moral
The power of intellect and storytelling can overcome tyranny and injustice.
Plot Summary
After discovering his wife's infidelity, Sultan Schahriar, believing all women are wicked, begins a practice of marrying a new bride each night and having her executed the next morning, plunging his kingdom into despair. The grand-vizir's highly intelligent daughter, Scheherazade, bravely volunteers to marry the Sultan, intending to end his reign of terror. She devises a plan with her sister, Dinarzade, to tell the Sultan a captivating story each night, stopping at a cliffhanger just before dawn, thus compelling him to spare her life for another day to hear the conclusion. On her wedding night, Scheherazade begins her first tale, successfully piquing the Sultan's curiosity and delaying her execution.
Themes
Emotional Arc
despair to hope
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The frame story of 'The Arabian Nights' (also known as 'One Thousand and One Nights') is set in a fictionalized ancient Persia/Arabia, drawing on various folk traditions from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and East Asia. The Sassanidae dynasty mentioned is a historical Persian empire.
Plot Beats (13)
- A powerful and beloved Sultan, Schahriar, rules a vast empire.
- Schahriar discovers his wife's infidelity and, in his grief and rage, executes her.
- Believing all women are treacherous, Schahriar institutes a decree to marry a new bride each night and have her executed the following morning.
- This practice causes widespread terror and sorrow throughout the kingdom.
- The grand-vizir, who must provide the brides, has two daughters, Scheherazade and Dinarzade; Scheherazade is exceptionally intelligent and beautiful.
- Scheherazade declares her intention to stop the Sultan's barbarity and asks her father to allow her to be the next bride.
- Her father is horrified and tries to dissuade her, fearing for her life, but Scheherazade remains resolute.
- Reluctantly, the grand-vizir agrees and informs the Sultan, who is astonished but accepts.
- Scheherazade instructs her sister Dinarzade to wake her before dawn on her wedding night and ask for a story.
- On her wedding night, Scheherazade requests that Dinarzade be allowed to sleep in their chamber as a last comfort.
- Dinarzade wakes Scheherazade and asks for a story, as planned.
- Scheherazade asks the Sultan for permission to tell a story, which he grants.
- Scheherazade begins to tell a captivating story, stopping at a cliffhanger as day breaks.
Characters
Schahriar
A powerful and imposing figure, likely of average to tall height and a strong build, befitting a king who commands respect and fear. His features would reflect his Persian heritage, with a strong nose and dark, piercing eyes.
Attire: Luxurious royal attire, likely flowing robes made of rich silk or brocade in deep jewel tones like sapphire, emerald, or ruby, possibly embroidered with gold thread. He would wear a jeweled turban, and perhaps a wide, ornate belt with a large buckle.
Wants: Driven by a profound sense of betrayal and a desire to prevent future deceit from women. He seeks to protect himself from emotional pain by eliminating potential threats.
Flaw: His inability to trust, his extreme cynicism, and his emotional fragility which leads to his cruel decree. He is easily swayed by his own pain.
Begins as a loving king, transforms into a cruel tyrant, and is poised to begin a journey of healing and rediscovery of trust through Scheherazade's stories.
Initially loving and generous, he becomes deeply cynical, vengeful, and cruel after his wife's betrayal. He is resolute in his decisions, even when they are barbaric, but also capable of astonishment and curiosity.
Scheherazade
A woman of exquisite beauty, likely slender and graceful, with features typical of Persian women: almond-shaped eyes, a delicate nose, and full lips. Her skin would be fair, perhaps with a warm undertone.
Attire: Initially, she would wear fine, modest Persian attire befitting the daughter of a Grand Vizier, perhaps a richly embroidered tunic over flowing trousers, made of fine silk or brocade in soft, elegant colors. For her marriage, she would wear a more elaborate, yet still modest, bridal ensemble, possibly a richly embroidered caftan or a two-piece ensemble of a fitted top and a flowing skirt, made of shimmering silk in cream or gold, with delicate gold jewelry.
Wants: To save the women of her kingdom from the Sultan's cruel decree and to restore peace and hope to her people. She also seeks to heal the Sultan's broken heart and mind.
Flaw: Her extreme self-sacrifice and willingness to face death, which could be seen as reckless by others, though it is her strength.
Begins as a determined young woman willing to sacrifice herself, and through her actions, she will transform from a potential victim into a savior, healer, and eventually, a beloved queen.
Intelligent, courageous, resourceful, compassionate, and determined. She is a quick thinker and a skilled storyteller, driven by a strong sense of justice and a desire to protect others.
Grand-Vizir
A man of mature years, possibly with a slightly stooped posture from the burdens of his office and personal grief. His build would be average, not overly imposing, reflecting his role as an administrator rather than a warrior. His features would be distinctly Persian.
Attire: Formal, dignified Persian court attire, likely a long, flowing robe (qaba) of fine wool or silk in a muted color like deep blue, grey, or dark green, possibly with subtle embroidery. He would wear a turban (dastar) appropriate for his rank, and perhaps a wide, simple belt.
Wants: To serve his Sultan faithfully, despite the moral conflict, and to protect his daughters from harm. He is driven by duty and paternal love.
Flaw: His fear of the Sultan's wrath and his inability to defy a direct order, even when it goes against his moral compass and paternal instincts.
Remains largely static in his role, but experiences profound emotional turmoil. He is forced to confront his loyalty against his paternal love, ultimately yielding to his daughter's will.
Loyal to his Sultan, but deeply compassionate and loving towards his daughters. He is burdened by his duties and filled with sorrow by the Sultan's decree. He is initially resistant to Scheherazade's plan due to fear for her life.
Dinarzade
A young Persian woman, likely of similar build and features to her sister, but perhaps less striking in her overall presence, as the story states she has 'no particular gifts to distinguish her'. She would be graceful and gentle.
Attire: Modest but fine Persian attire, perhaps a tunic and trousers of soft silk or cotton in lighter, less ornate colors than her sister, such as pale green, rose, or cream, with minimal embroidery. She would wear a simple head covering.
Wants: To support and assist her beloved sister, Scheherazade, in her courageous endeavor to save the kingdom's women.
Flaw: Lacks the extraordinary intelligence and courage of her sister, making her more vulnerable and reliant on Scheherazade's lead.
Remains largely static, serving as a catalyst for Scheherazade's storytelling, but her willingness to participate shows her quiet courage.
Loving, supportive, obedient, and kind. She deeply loves her sister and is willing to play a crucial role in Scheherazade's dangerous plan, despite her own fears.
Locations
Sultan Schahriar's Palace
A vast and opulent royal residence, likely built with sandstone or marble, featuring intricate geometric tile mosaics, pointed arches, and possibly muqarnas vaults. The interior chambers would be adorned with rich textiles, low divans, and perhaps a central courtyard with a riad-style fountain. The atmosphere is initially one of luxurious splendor, but quickly becomes heavy with dread due to the Sultan's decree.
Mood: Initially luxurious and grand, but quickly becomes a place of terror, sorrow, and impending doom for the brides. Later, it becomes a space of suspense and intellectual engagement.
The Sultan carries out his cruel decree of marrying and executing a new bride each night. Scheherazade is brought here to become the next bride and begins her storytelling to save her life and the lives of other women.
Grand-vizir's House
A well-appointed, but perhaps more modest, residence compared to the palace, likely a traditional Persian house with a central courtyard, possibly a small garden, and rooms arranged around it. The interior would be comfortable, with woven rugs and cushions, reflecting the status of a high-ranking official. It is a place of domestic comfort turned to despair.
Mood: Initially a place of family affection and intellectual pursuit for Scheherazade, it becomes a scene of intense emotional conflict, grief, and desperate pleading as Scheherazade insists on her plan.
Scheherazade reveals her daring plan to her father, the Grand-vizir, who tries desperately to dissuade her. She also confides her strategy to her sister Dinarzade here.
The City of Persia
A bustling ancient city with narrow, winding streets, mud-brick or stone buildings, and vibrant souks. The air would be filled with the cries of merchants and the general murmur of daily life. However, the pervasive fear of the Sultan's decree casts a pall over the once joyous atmosphere, replacing blessings with lamentations.
Mood: Once prosperous and joyful, now filled with horror, cries, lamentations, and curses due to the Sultan's nightly executions. A sense of collective despair hangs over the populace.
The city experiences widespread grief and terror as the Sultan's decree leads to the daily execution of young women, turning public sentiment against him.