“1001 Nights” holds the title as the most “widely known... Arabic literature.” It has achieved the title, in part, because of its uses of heroism and the incorporation of motifs related to forgiveness and reconciliation.
Heroism
The Vizer’s daughter creates a plan to end the Kings needless killing of wives. The King has been marrying at night and having her put to death at dawn, so his heart is never broken. The Vizer’s daughter plans to marry the King and prolong her life by telling him stories concluding the night with “Tomorrow night I shall tell something even stranger and more wonderful than this” (1785). Each succeeding morning the king must keep his wife a live so he can hear the story’s conclusion the next night. The Vizer’s daughter is committed to the plan telling her father she will save “the people or perish” (1778). The Vizer fears for his daughter, but she tells him he must let her try “even if he kills me” (1779).
The daughters actions are selfless and noble. She is willing to risk her life so that others may live. Through her bravely and self-sacrifice the daughter displays the qualities of true heroism. She shares other heroic qualities consistent to the definition of a medieval hero. The daughter is born of a common birth and displays good moral character as she protects the women of the kingdom from their King.
Motifs
Throughout the daughter’s stories the themes of betrayal and revenge complement the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. In the prolong betrayal is evident when the brothers are turned on by their wives. Much later reconciliation will come for the broken hearted King when the Vizer’s daughter helps him to forgive. In The Story of the Merchant and the Demon, betrayal is evident in each of the three men’s stories to the demon as well as forgiveness. The stories and their examples of forgiveness is what helps the demon, so willingly return his claim to the life of the fisherman.
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