—The Gift of Storytelling–
I’ve always been intrigued with the old Persian tale of Scheherazade and the story, as I remember, is penned in this post.
But I am also challenging any fellow blogger or reader to imagine the story line in a way that is not as harsh and cold blooded; a modern version, so to speak.
I love the way Scheherazade managed to soften the King’s heart with her intelligence, but there has got to be another way to show his displeasure beside beheading the young Queens who had nothing to do with his jealousy. (For example, secretly hiding all the girls in a dungeon until true love comes his way?) Entertaining the notion of how you, the modern day story spinner, can reshape this tale of evil and deceit, would be literary candy to me.
A $100.00 prize from wannathink.com will be given to the best version. Please email your entry to [email protected] and I will comment on each entry by email. This is an ongoing, blog content experiment and will have as many winners as I see fit to honor.
Scheherazade
It was said that Scheherazade perused the books annals and legends of proceeding kings and stories, examples and instances of bygone men and things. Indeed it was said that she had collected a thousand books of histories relating to antique races and departed rulers. She had perused the works of the poets and knew them by heart, she had studied philosophy and the sciences,acts and accomplishments, and she was pleasant and polite, wise and witty and well bred.∗
∗Sir Richard Burton's description of Scheherazade in his translation of 1001 Arabian Nights
The Enchantress
Shahryar, the Persian king of long ago, married a beautiful maiden only to be betrayed by her infidelity. This infuriated the king. His honor and reputation had been ruined. From that moment on he vowed to marry a young virgin each day and shower the young Queen and her family with royal treasures and at night consummate the marriage. But each morning he would have his bride beheaded in cruel and vicious reprisal, reminding his countrymen of his solemn vow never to allow betrayal again. 1000 days and 1000 deaths had passed before the horrible cycle of revenge would end.
On the morning of the 1001st day, the beautiful Scheherazade bowed at the king’s feet and requested that she be allowed to spend one evening with him. Her father, the Chief Vizier, had begged Scheherazade not to do it, but she felt the killings had to stop and she knew how to make it happen.
The king was mesmerized by Scheherazade’s bravery knowing she would be sacrificing her life, but granted her wish anyway. As evening approached, Scheherazade followed the king into his bed chamber. She laid down next to him and began telling a story. Throughout the evening she wove a tale of high adventure and intrigue. The king listened, captivated by the heroes and entranced by the villains.
An hour before sunrise, Scheherazade paused at a critical moment in the story. She bowed her head to the floor and asked for the king’s forgiveness. Dawn was approaching and she was too tired to continue. She promised to complete her story the following night if he would be merciful and grant her time to rest.
Still under the spell of her story, Shahryan granted her wish. The next morning Scheherazade finished her story. As the king marveled at the tale, Scheherazade began another; ending the story like the night before. Again she begged for him to let her rest and repeated her illusion the following night.
Scheherazade continued the wonderful stories for 1000 nights and on the 1,001st night, she finished her last story. By this time the king had fallen hopelessly in love with her, assured in his decision that a woman as captivating and wise would never break his heart. King Shahryan made Scheherazade his queen and they lived happily ever after.
N. Rimsky-Korssahoo Scheherazade 3rd Movement
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