Reading Notes: Arabian Nights, Half Unit

This unit, I decided to read Arabian Nights. I don't know much about these stories, so this should be fun.

Arabian Nights from Wikimed

• The first chapter, Scheherazade, is told from a third person perspective. The narrator is unclear, but they will be introducing the next narrator, Scheherazade herself.
• Old stories have dramatic consequences for small offenses. Despite the fact that the Sultana has lived a lovely life with her husband, the Sultan, her deception from years ago is leading to her demise. Now other women die at his hands for her deception.
• Scheherazade is an exception to the trend. She forces her father the grand-vizir, to let her marry the Sultan, in order to stop his murderous ways. 
• This is important to the story. Despite the fact that the Sultan has been unyielding so far, something about her has stopped him from strangling her. She is interesting and well-educated. 
• The sister, Dinarzade, is key to Scheherazade's plan working.
• Now, as the next chapter begins, Scheherazade is the narrator, telling her husband and sister stories.
• The parts of the story that are about Scheherazade are italicized. 
• She keeps getting to live because she doesn't finish her story. Now, at the end of this chapter, a character within her story is about to tell another story. Storyception.
• The men are taking turns telling their stories. It worked for the first man, and he was partly pardoned from punishment. If Scheherazade's story is anything like his, then perhaps she will be pardoned at the end of her story.
• She finally finished the Story of the Merchant, but she has convinced the Sultan to keep listening to her. Apparently, the Story of the Fisherman is much more interesting.
• It seems that each time, there are multiple layers of storytelling. This is a bit complex.
• Oh god. Another layer. So many layers. I am so lost.
• I find it interesting that this King is being deceived. The Sultan was also deceived. Nice parallel. In a way, the Sultan's vizir is also tricking him, as the King's is, because he sent his daughter into his chamber with the intentions of stopping his murderous ways.

Bibliography

Arabian Nights translated by Andrew Lang