More Thoughts on "Tales of Juha" (p. 95-144)

        I have really enjoyed reading this book! In fact, it has become one of my favorite novels that we have read. However, I was not that fond of chapters 5 and 6 that started off this reading section. I do not know whether I just did not understand the stories or whether I just did not appreciate the humor involved in them. Luckily, I did find the rest of this reading section amusing. I think mostly because I really enjoy the Juha stories that are either super witty or just ridiculously unexpected. One of my favorite stories is the one on page 109-110. It tells about a judge named Juha who tells two different bribers that they are both right in regards of the same case. His wife hears this and responds “Is your eminence a judge or simply two-faced?” She then proceeds to lecture him over why he is wrong in this situation. His wife’s endless nagging began to annoy him. In order to stop her, he told her that “[she] too has right fully on [her] side!” This is funny to me because it mocks the stereotype of a “nagging wife” and Juha’s witty response provides a cognitive shift. I also noticed that in the last chapter another character named “Tamerlane” makes several appearances. Tamerlane appears to be some kind of superior government figure that Juha either makes fun of or assists in the “joke” of each story. I like the story on page 142 of Juha and Tamerlane shooting arrows together. It is funny because Juha makes up a metaphor off the top of his head as he is shooting off arrows and it just so happens to work out perfectly. He is afterwards awarded with a generous gift from Tamerlane because of his wit. For the most part, these stories are nice because they are entertaining, descriptive, and easy to read. I read these stories late at night and I still did not fall asleep. Juha’s character is always changing but the humor involved stays fairly consistent. I feel like this was a good way to learn about the Arabian culture because their humor reveals a lot about the common features in those countries. Even though some of these stories are offensive towards women, most of these stories are harmless and are purely funny because Juha’s ridiculous nature and wit. I am sad this is the end of the “Tales of Juha” but I am glad to have gotten to know Juha.