# Loving Laili explained — Indian Fairy Tales

> Chapter companion for Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs.

## What happens

Prince Majnun, son of King Dantal, is destined by divine command to marry Laili, the daughter of Munsuk Raja. After a brief encounter, Majnun leaves, and Laili, driven by love, wanders for twelve years, eventually being swallowed by a Rohu fish and later restored to a hideous old woman. She is transformed into a little white dog to win Majnun's love, but he is initially terrified of her. With guidance from his father, he sets a condition for her to regain her youth.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Destiny

Laili's love for Majnun is preordained by Khuda, driving her to wander for twelve years and undergo transformations to be with him.

### Transformation and Metamorphosis

Laili undergoes multiple transformations: from a young girl to a heap of ashes, to an old woman, to a little white dog, and back to a young woman.

## Character check-ins

### Prince Majnun

The handsome prince destined to marry Laili; he flees from her in her aged form and later sets a condition for marriage.

### Laili

The devoted princess who wanders for twelve years, is swallowed by a Rohu fish, and later becomes a little white dog to win back Majnun's love.

### King Dantal

Majnun's father who advises his son on how to handle the old woman's proposal.

### Husain Mahamat

The Wazir's son and Majnun's companion in hunting and in the garden.

### Munsuk Raja

Laili's father who initially dismisses her dream but later agrees to her marriage.

### Rohu

The great fish that swallows Laili and carries her down the river.

## Key lines

> From that time she began repeating, 'Majnun, Majnun; I want Majnun,' and would say nothing else.

From then on, she could only utter 'Majnun, Majnun; I want Majnun,' and nothing else.

_Illustrates Laili's obsessive love and madness after the angel's command._

> She went off into the jungle, and wandered from jungle to jungle, till she got farther and farther away from her own country.

She fled into the jungle and roamed from one forest to another, moving ever farther from her homeland.

_Highlights her desperate search for Majnun over twelve years._

> I am your wife Laili, and I want to marry you.

I am your wife Laili, and I wish to marry you.

_Laili's plea to Majnun after regaining human form in his bed._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/loving-laili
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters