Literary Monster
The monstrous tendencies of the Ifrit are highlighted in the text as he threatens the fisherman with death when released, “Be glad that you will soon be put to the death” (Haddawy, p.625).
The text also emphasized the Ifrit's monstrous appearance
“He had a head like a tomb, fangs like pincers, a mouth like a cave, teeth like stones, nostrils like trumpets, ears like shields, a throat like an alley, and eyes like lanterns…in short, he was a hideous monster”
(Haddawy,p.625 )
Forgiveness is presented as a very human trait in this text ,a trait that the Ifrit is at first demonstrated to be incapable of possessing.
Our kindness they repaid with ugly deeds,
Upon my life, the deeds of men depraved.
He who the undeserving aids will meet.
The fate of him whom the hyena saved.
(Haddawy ,p.626,)
This commentary on the Ifrit monstrosity and cruelty could be expanded to the cruelty exhibited by Shahryar himself in the Arabian nights and stresses on the theme of unjust punishment. The monster is not merciful to the fisherman, despite the fisherman having saved him from his predicament. Shahryar similarly decides to execute Scheherazade through no fault of her own. Hence the conflict between the fisherman and the jinni can be interpreted as a metaphor for the conflict between Shahryar and Scheherazade. This passage also serves as a warning to him as Shahryar embodies the jinni and highlights the same tendencies as him.
‘Forgive me, and God will grant you forgiveness.
Destroy me, and God will inflict on you one who will destroy you.’
(Haddawy, page 625)
However, the cruelty and bitterness of the Ifrit stands in sharp contract with the Ifrit that appears previously in the One thousand and one nights. In the story involving Aladdin’s lamp, the jinn is depicted to be generous and friendly, and offers Aladdin three wishes of his choice.
The Ifrit shares a lot of attributes with the dragon in Beowulf. The dragon in Beowulf, like the jinni, is also vengeful and wants to take revenge on the kingdom because a run-away servant stole one piece of his hoard of gold and treasures. (Heaney, p.118-194) Thus, it attempts to destroy the kingdom with fire and kill its inhabitants. The Ifrit is similarly vengeful and wrathful for having been locked in a jar, due to which he wants revenge for this crime committed against him and attempts to take the fisherman’s life. While the Irfit is described to be a “hideous monster”, the dragon is similarly depicted as a “huge, reptile-like beast with enormous claws and bat-like wings” (Heaney, p.118-194). However, the ifrit sharply contrasts with the dragon in one crucial aspect-the Ifrit forgives the fisherman in the end after having learned about the importance of forgiveness from him.
One could argue that the behavior exhibited by the monsters reflects the culture that produced them. In Anglo-Saxon society the dragon was believed to be a supernatural creature that is a symbol of evil. This is reflected in Beowulf. However, this contrasts with the way that people in the Middle East viewed jinn’s or demons. They would not view the demons as a creature of evil but as supernatural creatures that contained a lot of hidden knowledge, wisdom, and strength. Thus, the demon was portrayed as a monster with intelligence that could eventually reform to show very human characteristics of mercy. Further the art of storytelling that was integral to Arabic culture is emphasized in this story. Thus, the fisherman is eventually able to convince the jinni to spare his life through the art of storytelling and through his own anecdotes and wisdom.