C LIT243 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Role Reversal, Escapism
15 May 2018
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January 24, 2018
Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Pari-Banou
• Middle Eastern elements – not necessarily needed to be contextualized to Aladdin
framework
• Inconsistency – king seemed genuine, but then turns on son at end
• Same pattern as Cupid and Psyche – mysterious partner
• Almost a version of Beauty and the Beast – oe o-hua parter
• De-humanized niece at beginning, then transfers to relationship with fairy; dynamic
difference in portrayal of relationship
• South Asian folklore?
o Female siblings
o Cultural elements travelled through military conquests
o Do not routinely observe three male siblings in later European tales
• Sultan gives three sons task
o Bring back treasures and the best gets to marry cousin; Sultan is collector of rare
treasure
• Tale is mysterious – descriptions allow assumption that it was meant for imagination of
western reader
• Escapism – enjoy exotic outside, oriental world
• Representation of wealth – huge appeal of society; justified colonial conquest and
imperial sentiments
• Tales are never innocent – framed in particular ideology
• Assumed Sultan is Sultan of East Indies
o Refers to sills, dyes, spices, variety of jewels, temples (religious)
o Roses, animals – exotic presence
o Portrayal of very dark people – skin colour discussed; otherness
• 40 purses could be representation of change (genesis)
• Items came together in the sense it saves the princess – cannot save her without all
items
• Fairy is originally her own mistress, but falls into submissive role upon marriage; not as
prominent as other tales
o Has power over Ahmed
o Relationship is progressive?
• Difference between Cupid and Psyche
o Fairy is controlling, but it stems from insecurity and fear of Ahmed leaving her
o Feminist approach – Fairy’s ehavior osidered okay eause she’s ot hua
o Role reversal of gender
o Relief from arranged marriage
• Bizarre development of Sultan
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