(source; http://www.art-archive.com (search; “The Arabian Nights”)
The Arabian Nights and Othello have many similarities, both written pieces have some soft of betrayal, adultery, deception and manipulation. Within the Arabian Nights both Shahrayar and Shahrazad’s wives betray them by sleeping with other individuals and in Othello, Desdemona’s is perceived to have committed adultery as well. In both texts women are said to be lustful, unfaithful and promiscuous. This is Iago stating his view on women and bashing/labeling all of them as mere whores that look to satisfy their desires. “There’s none so foul and foolish thereunto, but does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do. She never yet was foolish that was fair, for even her folly helped her to an heir” (Act 2 scene 1 line 150). In the Arabian Nights, after being betrayed and witnessing/participating in having sex with a woman captured by a demon, Shahrayar has come to a conclusion that all women are unfaithful whores, the author Husain Haddawy states, “He swore to marry for one night and one night only and kill the woman the next morning, in order to save himself from the wickedness and cunning of women, there is not a single chaste women on anywhere on the entire face of the earth” (12). There are also many connections of forgiveness and mercy. In the Arabian Nights, the Tale of the King’s son and the She-Ghoul, the king who suspects the sage of being a powerful superhuman that is after his throne, tries to get him killed just based on suspicion planted in his by his vizier, right before the sage is about to get his head cut off he states, “Spare me your majesty and God will spare you; destroy me, and God will destroy you” (45). The king does not spare the sage and ultimately pays the price and dies later on. Just like the king, Othello was also forced to murder his wife based off of suspicion raised by Iago and Othello did pay the ultimate price for that, he was so terrified, ashamed and disgusted in himself that he killed his innocent wife that he committed suicide.
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