Only through empathy and understanding will social change come and that is what Shahrazad did with the King. This only shows how laws cannot drastically change the hearts and minds of the public. In fact this new Saudi law is still not accepted by some of the Saudi population there which became outraged with the change of the law. While it is a small achievement to western countries who have granted women the right to drive for decades, it is revolutionary in Saudi Arabia. But during that time and in those cultures, the stories were groundbreaking stories where women lead main roles that got them the center of attention.ДЇurthermore, baby steps in women rights were achieved throughout the centuries, and more recently, is the case of Saudi Arabia, which gave women the right to operate motor vehicles. Yet, Shahrazad portrays women as good and bad, humanizing them and giving them the power to be both, but to the modern reader, such achievements were too insignificant to be celebrated. It also shows how Sharia law was the foundation of these cultures that enabled men to practice polygamy and be the head of the family. The portrayal of women in the stories might be shocking to modern readers, and especially, western readers because of the cultural and time differences on how women were treated during that time.

The stories give a glimpse of the way of life, including gender roles, societal expectations, education, and economic classes. The concept of storytelling portrays how lessons were taught as well as a portrayal of how entertainment and passing time were practiced. These stories have set the foundation of many books, shows, and movies that are still watched today.ДЄrabian Nights highlights the power of storytelling during that time. The stories were originally told and passed down to generations orally, mainly in Asian and Arab origins until they moved on to the Western world. The story was told during the 12th century and it gives the reader an insight into the culture of that period and the Islamic Golden Age.

The Arabian Nights is one of the most influential stories that have captured the culture of an era and have influenced traditions of many societies for generations to come. By: MeriamВ Helal/Arab America Contributing Writer

One night in arabia