and kept by the man for ten years, as was their sentence. Although the actions of his brothers were wrong, the man forgives them because to repay them in kind would be to betray his own values.The most prominent moral that prevails throughout the entire story of the merchant and the Jinn as well as the individual stories of the three men is therefore: even in times of distress and vulnerability, never compromise your integrity. The merchant demonstrates this by returning to meet the Jinn, though he will die when he does so. The first man shows this when he does not kill his wife for her misdeeds caused by jealousy; the second man, when he does not allow his brothers to be killed for their transgressions. All of these men are virtuous and will not permit fear, sorrow, or ill treatment to discredit this. Today, as in the past, many people still believe and follow that when a man has virtue, he will not disown his morals and values, even if his very life is in danger....
