What is the framing story of the One Thousand and One Nights?

The One Thousand and One Nights is a collection of Middle Eastern and South Asian stories and folk tales, compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age. The most famous of these tales is the story of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp. However, the framing story of the One Thousand and One Nights is equally fascinating.

The framing story centers around a Persian king named Shahryar who discovers that his wife has been unfaithful to him. In his anger and betrayal, he vows to marry a new virgin every day, and execute her the following morning, to prevent any future betrayal. This cycle continues for three years, until the king meets Scheherazade, a woman who is renowned for her intelligence and storytelling ability.

On the night of their marriage, Scheherazade begins to tell the king a story, but leaves it unfinished, promising to finish it the following night. Intrigued, the king postpones her execution so that he may hear the rest of the story. Scheherazade continues to tell a new story every night, but always leaves it unfinished, forcing the king to spare her life so he can hear the end. Scheherazade continues this cycle for 1,001 nights, during which time she gives birth to three sons.

Finally, on the 1,001st night, Scheherazade finishes her last story, but by this time, the king has fallen in love with her and decides to spare her life. The king repents his past life and takes Scheherazade as his permanent queen, and they live happily ever after.

The framing story of the One Thousand and One Nights not only provides the context for the tales that follow, but it also showcases the power of storytelling and the ability of a good story to transform lives.