Comparing Gilgamesh's One Thousand And One Nights

The Epic of Gilgamesh and One Thousand and One Nights are ancient literary works that display many different lessons through different symbols, themes, and motifs. These writings give the reader a look into the past and a preview of the future. These writings have been around for thousands of years, which gave them the time to seep into different cultures throughout the world. Literary works like these go into other cultures and have an impact on how people live their lives. Throughout the ages, women have played a key and important role in literature. Sometimes being described in a plethora of different ways; being shown as an intelligent guide to men or as a deceiver and obstacle to them. Like an angel or a demon? Whatever the role is or

These motifs, as well as stereotypes, are well evident throughout the works of literature. “As for me, now that you have fallen in love with me, you will treat me like them!” (Foster 75-76). Gilgamesh is describing an old fairytale from Mesopotamia where a woman tricks a man into falling in love with her so that he can kill him. He thinks that he will do that to her, so he actively refuses to marry her. It is also stated that “Ishtar prostitute par excellence in religious texts, the patroness of prostitutes- is repulsed by Gilgamesh because she has assumed an intolerable role for a female.” (Harris 126). This heavily demonstrates how these motifs and stereotypes have embedded themselves into these very ancient texts and their practices in a big way. This shows their costumes back then and as well they bring their way into the current society and people's biases in a big way. These texts and their demonstration of women have meaningful impacts in today’s world. Showing how leaders can abuse their position and, in the process, take advantage of women. “He mates with the lawful wife, first, the groom

This passage expands on the idea that these works of literature are used across the globe today to influence people’s thoughts and ideas about the female role. From mass deceiver to guiding angel, women in ancient literature have been shown to have a multitude of roles that still heavily contribute to how society sees women in today’s world. Through The Epic of Gilgamesh and One Thousand and One Nights, these literary works are just two examples of the major impact that the female role played and continues to play in ancient literature. From promiscuous to reverent, women have different roles in these works depending on the context. These works use a multitude of literary devices to get these points across to their audience, such as motifs, symbols, and