Why is the frame story significant to the plot?

The concept of frame stories dates far back, to long before The Arabian Nights, and remains a popular device to this day. However, this collection is notable not only for the sophistication of its frame, but also for the multiplicity of the frames it uses. Here, the frame story places emphasis on the interconnectedness of all the tales. Many of the stories contain messages that echo the message Scheherazade wishes to teach Shahrayar: that people should treat others with respect. When other stories serve as frames for subsequent stories, this same type of commenting happens; consider the fisherman's story in "The Fisherman and the Jinni." Ultimately, the framing device helps the collection to not only tell stories, but further to comment on the act of storytelling, as something meant for both entertainment and personal improvement. Stories can change our lives if we let them.