Embedded narration, or story within a story, is a technique widely used in The Thousand and One Nights. This approach implies the inclusion of extra-plot elements in the text that are not directly related to the plot but discuss the main topic. In most cases, the embedded narration is a complete story with its own plot, but it is united thematically with the whole plot’s main idea. The Thousand and One Nights is an example of a framework story including many embedded narrations, which have their own plot and meaning.
One such story within a story is the Tale of Sympathy the Learned, which tells about a young slave woman who was educated in various fields. Although most Muslim women did not have access to knowledge, only to religious education, the main character of the novel was educated in art, law, music, and the exact sciences (Mathers). Thus, through the story of Sympathy, Shahrazad tries to show that the women serving the king can be educated and virtuous. Even living in limited conditions, women, like men, strive for knowledge of the world and participation in spiritual life.
Within the framework of the story of The Thousand and One Nights, the novel reflects the whole plot’s main idea. Shahrazad tries to show the Shahryar that women can be as virtuous and independent as men. By telling him stories, the girl illustrates that she can be a smart and interesting person. Like the main character of the embedded narration, Sympathy, she is educated and strives not only for mere existence but also for knowledge. Thus, through the story of a slave, Shahrazad wants to show that Muslim women are in limited conditions and they are prejudiced; however, they are capable of being interesting personalities with their own view of the world.
Work Cited
Mathers, Powys. The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night. Vol. 2, Routledge, 2005.