Essay On Never Trust A Woman - Themes From Ali Baba And The Forty Thieves

The percept ‘Never trust in women; nor rely upon their vows’, a view that Kind Shahriyar firmly believed in, does not hold true. Every woman is not the same as the other and while some women may be untrustworthy, others may be epitomes of loyalty and virtue. The main cause for Shahriyar’s rage and hatred towards women is his firm belief that ever woman is deceitful, adulterous and cannot be trusted. The unfaithfulness of his brother’s wife, and that of his own, leads him to question whether they have been unfortunate or if the treachery of women is universal. His questions are answered when they hear the story of how a ‘lady of noble race’ (Page 14, Paragraph 10) has been unfaithful to a being as powerful as an Efrit, that too with a 100 men. It is this woman who places the percept of ‘Never trust in women’ into Shahriyar’s heart and mind.
However, the story of Ali Baba and The Forty Thieves hold several examples of how a woman can be loyal, obedient and protective, even when it is not demanded of them. Merjaneh is the personification of the ideal, virtuous and trustworthy woman, who is dedicated towards the fulfillment of her duties. She is a very cunning and observant woman. Unlike the lady of noble birth who uses her intellect to deceive the Efrit, Merjaneh, despite being a slave, uses her skills to ensure the safety of her master and his household.
When the first of the thieves discovers Ali Baba’s house and marks it with chalk, Merjaneh not only notices the mark but, on her own initiative, takes measures to protect her master. Although she is not certain who has made the mark and what their intentions are, she believes that ‘it is advisable to guard against the worst’ (Page 23, Paragraph 38). After having marked neighbouring houses in the same manner as the mark on Ali Baba’s house, she does not speak of it to her master or his wife, possibly because she does not yet know the significance of the mark. Ever watchful, Merjaneh ‘whose eyes nothing could escape’ (Page 24, Paragraph 42) trounces the second attempt by the thieves to mark Ali Baba’s house.
When the captain of the thieves finally manages to identify the house and deviously brings his men into Ali Baba’s house, the observant Merjaneh once again discovers the true contents of the oil jars. She displays great presence of mind by checking each jar ‘without showing her amazement’ (Page 25, Paragraph 49). Merjaneh undertakes great personal peril each time she approaches a jar containing an armed robber, but does so as she is sincerely committed to her duties towards her master. She could have alerted Ali Baba about the presence of thieves in the house, but does not do so, possibly for fear of the thieves finding out that they had been discovered. Not knowing where the captain was, she does not risk a full-fledged attack on her master by 38 armed men.
Merjaneh displays great valour by taking it upon herself to kill the thieves, which she does with stealth and shrewdness. Having made sure that the thieves in the jars are dead, she still does not take the risk of alerting the captain. Instead she waits, ‘resolving not to go to rest till she had observed what might follow’ (Page 25, Paragraph 50). This reveals her absolute commitment towards safeguarding her master and mistress. It is only after she sees the captain escaping from the house that goes to rest, ‘satisfied and pleased at having succeeded so well in saving her master and family’ (Page 25, Paragraph 51). This sentence shows that protecting her master is not just a matter of duty for her, but that loyalty is her virtue.
Merjaneh’s loyalty is further illustrated through her handling of the second attack by the captain on Ali Baba. Although she is set free by Ali Baba after he realizes that she save his life and, possibly, his family, she remains loyal to him and continues to fulfill her duties. Once again, she grows suspicious of the guest as he asks for unsalted food as, in Arabian tradition, having salt at someone’s house would require a person to be loyal to the owner. Once again, having discovered that the guest is the captain of the thieves, she notices a concealed dagger and understands that he intends to murder Ali Baba, but she vows to ‘prevent him’ (Page 27, Paragraph 61). Being a free woman now, Merjaneh was not obliged to protect Ali Baba and his family. She does so owning to her profound loyalty.
Merjaneh places herself in danger a second time by killing the captain before he can launch an attack on Ali Baba. Merjaneh is the perfect example of just how virtuous, loyal, brave and good a woman can be. Her character is ideal to prove that the percept of ‘Never trust in women’ is false.