『아라비안 나이트』에서 재현된 여성 임파워먼트 해석의 문제 - 샤라자드(Shahrazad)와 스토리텔링

This paper concentrates on the theme of 'women's empowerment' presented in Arabian Nights. Arabian Nights, which belongs to tradition of an oral storytelling, includes not neutral but judgemental comments on women. Therefore it reflects the ideological idea of women. There are several women presented in "Story of King Shahryar and His Brother" at the beginning of Arabian Nights; adulterous two queens, a deceitful wife('a young lady') and a faithful and wise wife. Two queens and a false wife('a young lady') represent undesirable women type, while Shahrazad is described as a true, wise, but 'empowered' wife. Through reading and telling the stories, she obviously got the power to control and teach her husband. She could not be killed, she survived one thousand and one nights and maybe more as well as she bore three sons to her husband-king Shahryar. As an obedient and faithful wife, Shahrazad seems to fulfill traditional sex role thoroughly. However, viewed in the point of cognitive sense, self-educated Shahrazad improved and changed her husband's revengeful mind: very misogynistic Shahryar became a loving father, husband and merciful ruler. In this respect, power of storytelling makes women's empowerment possible and materialzes 'female mastery'. Even more, when Shahrazad accompanied Dunyazad to the palace, two sisters shows female solidarity, which supports each other and could help women's empowerment take root in the male-dominant society.