Laiza Joy B.

Javier Great Books

BSMA 301

THE TALE OF BAKBAK, THE BARBER’S SIXTH BROTHER

The barber's sixth brother loses his fortune and he is forced to beg. A wealthy man from
the influential Iranian family of Bar maki invites the brother to eat in his mansion. The
man requests a water basin, a table, and food, yet his brother sees none of these items.
He believes that the man enjoys tricking practical jokes on people and pretends to eat
the invisible food with his host. Finally, the brother hits the host on the back of the neck
while pretending to be drunk on invisible wine. He guarantees the host is to blame for
his inebriation. The host laughs, complimenting the brother on his wit. He brings real
food and drinks to his brother. They become companions, and the brother manages the
host's estate until it is taken over by the king. The brother is wandering and poor again
when he is captured by Bedouins, who cut off his lips. One Bedouin accuses the brother
of seducing his wife and as a punishment, he detached his penis. The brother is
abandoned by the side of the road. The barber loves this brother as much as he loves
the others. The barber lets his audience members know that, while the caliph enjoyed
the stories, he expelled the barber from the city. Since then, the barber has moved from
town to town.
After hearing the barber's story, the banquet guests realize that his overly talkative
nature ruined the lame man's life. They lock the barber up and continue with the
banquet. The tailor concludes the barber's story by stating that he met the hunchback
after leaving the dinner. The story of the barber is more entertaining to the king of China
than the story of the hunchback. He summoned the barber to court. The barber, an
elderly, simpleminded man, examines the hunchback and notices that he is still alive.
He extracts the piece of fish from the hunchback's throat, and the hunchback regains
consciousness. The steward, physician, broker, and tailor receive honorary robes from
the king of China, and the barber becomes his lifelong "companion." Finally, the sixth
brother meets somebody with no ulterior intentions. Indeed, his wit and cunning are
rewarded. Despite the rich man's trickery with invisible food and wine, he does not
immediately consider revenge attacks. Instead, he goes along with it and eventually
outwits the trickster, earning his friend's friendship and wealth.
However, his fortunes change quickly when he is robbed by both the king and the
Bedouins.

Moral of the story:

Life is cruel; both rich and poor people will exploit the innocent, and everyone is looking
out for themselves.