A Thousand and One Nights

A famous line from The Mourning Bride, a play by English playwright William Congreve, states “Heaven has no rage like love turned to hatred, nor hell fury like a woman scorned.” This can also be said about men and is proven by King Shahrayar in A Thousand and One Nights, when he is deceived by his unfaithful wife and punishes her by death. He then promises an unimaginable wrath against woman believing that all women are capable of such horrific acts and beds a new girl every night only to kill her the next day. “He then swore to marry for one night only and kill the woman the next morning, in order to save himself from the wickedness and cunning of women, saying, ‘There is not a single chaste woman anywhere on the entire face of the earth.’”
This terror comes to an end when he meets Shahrazad, the daughter of a vizier who believes it is her duty to stop him. Every night for a thousand and one nights she recites stories of various morals to the king. In the end it is because of her knowledge that he spares her life and marries her.
Prince William of England also appreciates an intelligent woman and chose one to be his wife. The New York Times article Diana’s Ring Seals Prince William’s Marriage Plans briefly explains where and how he met his future wife Kate Middleton. While someone might suspect she was already of a higher stature she is actually from middle-class home and the two met at The University of St. Andrews in Scotland. If Ms. Middleton becomes Queen, she will be the first to have a college education. It seems as though both Prince William and King Shahrayar were impressed by a ladies intellect and fell madly in love. Just like Shahrazad waited a few years for an outcome, Ms. Middleton has waited for her prince to propose. “Miss Middleton’s sometime tabloid nickname, “Waity Katie,” a reference to the notion that she has supposedly been waiting around for Prince William to propose.” (NYT11/16/10)
In the end, the patience of both woman resulted in a great achievement, Shahrazad saved her life and became Queen and Kate Middleton gained the chance of one say having such an honorary title.