Representations Of Self-Indulgence In The Country Wife And Arabian Nights

This assignment will discuss the different representations of self-indulgence, the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification in will focus on characters and their role in the following texts William Wycherley’s The Country Wife and Arabian Nights’ Entertainments it will compare the acts of the characters and the way these acts are represented through the texts.

The Country Wife is a Restoration comedy written in 1675 Pacheco explains of the play “It has been called a comedy of manners, a wit comedy, a sex comedy and a libertine comedy” they further add “To call a play ‘libertine’ is not the same thing as saying that it’s about sex, though this will certainly be one of the main ingredients.” (Pacheco, 2015, P.122).

The acts of self-indulgence

In contrast, the act of self-indulgence is represented in Arabian Nights as that of greed, which appears to be the case of formal patterning throughout the stories and characters. This discussion will be based on three stories from the collection, it will look at the subject of self-indulgence, greed and their similarities throughout.

The first example of Arabian Nights is that of Aladdin, who perhaps is the epitome of self-indulgence, is his greatest vice is his irrefutable greed. Not satisfied with what the Genie grants him he continues to demand more, flaunting his gains for all to see and using these to gain the affections of the Sultan and indeed his daughter. Aladdin's young greed and naiveté are typical of a character like this and seems to be a pattern throughout Arabian Nights. Stories of this type, typically punish the character for their greed or only reward him when he uses a greater virtue for success. Aladdin is often portrayed as being a hero, in modern times rather for his pure acts of

He was made captain of the Sultan's armies, and won several battles for him, but remained as courteous as before, and lived thus in peace and content for several years."

"Aladdin's Lamp"

Though In general, it suggests that greed in pursuit of creating a better life, rather than just amassing wealth for its own sake is an acceptable vice. Which appears again as thematic patterning throughout Arabian Nights.

Another tale is that of Ali Baba, where this also can be construed as being rewarded for his self-indulgence. Ali Baba consistently steals from a cave and allows the greed of others to threaten his safety. At first, the story suggests he will suffer because of greed - but then ingenuity saves the day. As captivated by this quote.

"He told his son the secret of the cave, which his son handed down in his turn, so the children and grandchildren of Ali Baba were rich to the end of their lives."

"Ali Baba and the Forty