Anahit's Woven Riddle

The story is about a teenage girl named Anahita who has been promised to someone she dislikes. She doesn't want to marry someone she hates, and be miserable for the rest of her life. So eventually she convinces her father to hold a contest for her hand in marriage. The contest is one of wits for the man who is able to solve the riddle she has woven into her wedding carpet is the one she will marry. This all takes place inthe Middle East. Having this contest draws attention of many different types of would be suitors.

The settingis in early19th century of the MiddleEastern country of Persia. The setting affects the outcome of the story because Anahita is a nomad. In her culture, the Muslim principles restrict women from having too much freedom and from being completely independant. With changes happening and a revolution on its way, the contest shows the changes to come. In having this contest, she changes many people's veiws on marriage and gets more freedom thanshe would normally have ever had in her culture.

Anahita's character has astrongwill and a very independant minded person.She is considered beautiful by others with long black hair and eyes that are prized features among her people. She is smart as well as a master of riddles even though she was not literate at first. Among her people,she is considered unique because of her way of thinking and how she voices her ideas. Wise in her own way, she cares for others and tries to help those who may not have much if not for her help. Always willing to help other people without anything in return, she is said to be very caring.

The problem of who Anahita was to marry was solved with having the competition for her hand in marriage. Many showed to try their hand at solving the riddle that had been woven into her wedding carpet. Whoever solved the riddle would not only have her hand in marriage, but would also know her heart. There was only one man who solved the riddle and understood why she had woven it and what it maeant to her. He turned out to be the governor's son who was not only a nomad, but a princeas well. In the end having the contest helped solve her problems with having to marry, but she was also able to have a choice when many others did not.

The climax of the story is when almost everyone who came had a chance at solving the riddle and there was only one person left. The person Anahita most wanted to marry