Week 5 World Lit - Copy

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English

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Apr 30, 2024

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Brantley, Melanie Page 1 Melanie Brantley World Literature November 19, 2023 Professor Norman The Portrayal of Gender Roles in The Arabian Nights: An Extensive Analysis How are gender roles portrayed in The Arabian Nights, and what impact does this have on the perception of femininity and masculinity in related societies? The Arabian Nights' portrayal of gender roles is complex, this story is often challenging what is traditionally excepted while simultaneously reinforcing the social norms. This difference influences perceptions of femininity and masculinity among the readers and society in general. Arabian Nights, which is a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age, is an essential reservoir of cultural values and gender perceptions from its time of creation. In this essay, I propose to analyse the portrayal of gender roles in The Arabian Nights and decipher the influence on contemporary understandings of gender norms in related societies. Beginning with my research, I will thoroughly examine the tales, focusing on stories like "The Porter and the Three Ladies of Baghdad" and "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves", which offer in my opinion a good description of gender norms, expectations, and dynamics. While I am using these tales as my primary sources, I will dissect the portrayal of male and female characters, their roles, relationships, and shifts in narratives due to gender. Horta, P. L. (2013). The Arabian Nights in Historical Context: Between East and West, "The Arabian Nights" In, and Of, the West. Modern Philology, 111(2), 277–296. Retrieved from https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/673006 In these tales, female characters are often challenging social norms for their time period, by showing intelligence and courage, despite many of these tales originating from a relating characteristic society (Horta, 2013). However, their roles also show traditional expectations turning them into facilitative figures whose actions serve only to enhance male narratives. This behavior creates a captivating and ambiguous depiction of femininity and masculinity, showing the traditional gender role confines typically associated with the period of the story's origin. Marzolph, U. (2006). The Arabian Nights Reader. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Oo3DAcq7OZoC In this essay, I also want to analyze the numerous criticisms and scholarly analyses, like the works of Ulrich Marzolph, to help my understanding of the cultural and social contexts that helped shape these stories (Marzolph, 2006). The insight from these sources in my opinion will provide a good foundation for assessing the cultural values presented in The Arabian Nights and allow me to connect these themes to contemporary gender norms and societal structures. Al-Mubarak, M. (2018). Alienation in the Arabian Nights: A Postcolonial Study. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ), 3, 122-133. Retrieved from https://awej.org/alienation-in-the-arabian-nights-a-postcolonial-study/
Brantley, Melanie Page 1 Ultimately, I will be able to gather all the information and write a comprehensive argument that helps me answer the thesis question, allowing me to contribute to the ongoing scholarly dialogue surrounding gender norms and cultural narratives within this collection of tales. Littman, R. (1975). Mores on Prostitution. Journal of Social History, 8(3), 21-30. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/3786724
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