Snake
Shahrayar states, "Shame, shame, I am filled with horror at this revelation of the deceit and wickedness of women. But how fortunate you were my beloved brother, in killing your wife for betraying you; she who was the cause of your misery and malaise. She was a snake hiding in the grass, waiting to strike the hand which fed her." Shahrayar equates Shahzaman's wife to a snake because he deems her a traitor who deceives a husband who accorded her a good life and royalty status. Her infidelity is comparable to a snake's venom for it extremely hurts Shahzama's ego.
“Burning coals”
Hanan al-Shaykh writes, "Shahrayar tossed and turned on his bed all night long, as if it was made of burning coals. When day broke, he lay listening to the chirrup of birds and water tumbling from the fountain, which he heard each morning, and couldn't help think that his brother had hallucinated and imagined it all." 'Burning coals' denote Shahrayar's discomfort which ensues the night before he witnesses his wife's blatant infidelity. He cannot rest calmly because he is conscious that his brother's assertions regarding his wife may be factual.
Lion
Hanan al-Shaykh expounds, “As Mas’ud began to make love to her, the ten black slaves mounted the girls. Shahrayar almost cried out, like a lion fatally wounded by an arrow to the eye. Quickly as a bolt of lightning, he reached the garden with his sword in his hand, thirsty for revenge.” The lion is emblematic of Shahrayar’s might and power which is challenged when he beholds his wife getting intimate with a slave. His ego is wounded because of his status as a king. He would not anticipate that his wife would cheat on him with a mere slave.
Eyelid
Hanan al-Shaykh writes, “Shahrayar was so powerful and strong that even savage animals feared him; but at the same time, he was fair, caring and kind to his people-just as the eyelid protects the eye. And they, in turn, were loyal, obeyed him blindly, and adore him.” The eyelid underscores Sharayar’s caring nature which appeals to his subjects’ adoration and loyalty. He is excessively compassionate towards them that he would guard them in an eye-lid like manner despite his renowned savagery.
Cockroaches
Shahzaman explains, “ I had a great wound to my soul and my heart was set on fire, for I caught my wife in the arms of one of the kitchen boys in her quarters before I set out to come to you. My anger took control and I avenged myself by slaying both of them and hurling them bodies in a trench, like two dead cockroaches.” Cockroaches underscore Shahzaman and her lover’s worthlessness. Shahzaman feels that they deserved their deaths for deceiving him. For him, the two are insignificant to deserve living; hence, he terminates their existence to revenge for the pain they cause him due to their infidelity.
