A ruler pardons a man. The man saves a woman. The merchant thanks the man for saving his daughter. The man falls in love with the woman. The ruler asks the merchant an important question. The merchant responds wisely. The man uncovers a secret. The merchant does too. Someone makes a friend. Some even have a family. A simple story! If it weren't for the Judaism, Christianity and Islam that separate the protagonists: Here there is negotiation and a struggle for truth, because every decision means all or nothing.
Lessing's Enlightenment drama does not ask: "How do you feel about religion?", but above all "How do you feel as a human being?". A plea for tolerance and humanity.