Storytelling as an act Survival: Reimagining Shahrzad in Githa Hariharan’s When Dreams Travel

The Arabian Nights has garnered significant attention and recognition on a global scale, influencing literature, the arts, and drama, film, and popular culture in an unparalleled manner. The frame narrative of the Nights features Shahrzad, the storyteller who employs storytelling as a means of resistance. Feminist interpretations frequently depict Shahrzad as a trailblazer who undermines patriarchal conventions, employing her knowledge to outwit King Shahryar and rescue women from death. The paper examines Githa Hariharan’s novel When Dreams Travel (1990) as a revision of The Nights, emphasizing the overlooked facets of Shahrzad’s existence and the context of her storytelling. Hariharan’s novel elucidates the coercion inherent in Shahrzad’s stories, portraying storytelling not solely as a form of resistance but as a reaction to the violence and dominance exerted upon her. The paper discusses the novel as both an extension and a critical modification of the original narrative of the Nights, commencing with the imaginary demise of Shahrzad, redirecting focus from her victory to the unarticulated tragedy that influenced her endurance. When Dreams Travel functions as a feminist intervention, prompting readers to reassess the foundations of literary tradition from the perspectives of oppression and survival. By emphasizing the gender-based violence that informs Shahrzad’s narrative, Hariharan reveals overlooked aspects of feminine anguish and resilience. The paper explores the themes of silence, oppression, and narrative authority, illustrating how reinterpreting canonical texts can provide new perspectives on the intricate interplay between gender, violence, and storytelling.

Keywords: survival, gender, violence, revision, patriarchy