Just to add my bit: I think this construction is actually wrong here. It really should be "wretched as I am", rather than "as wretched as I am". There's an example of it in "In the Bleak Midwinter": What can I give him, poor as I am? It is such an unusual construction nowadays (except in the phrase "strange as it may seem") that people sometimes "correct" it by putting an extra "as" in. But the meaning is clearer, I think, without it. A long time ago you could use "that" instead of "as": Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave my heart into my mouth. ("King Lear")

Incomple is correct. As simple as it may be, I still couldn't understand it. In this different example you can see the usage of "as ___ as" means though (Even though it's simple, I still couldn't understand it).

Hello Kim, Interesting question! As wretched as I am, these Arabs believe that the chastisement that awaits me in hell is far more severe and lasting. The meaning is something like, 'even though I am already wretched my fate in hell will be worse according to the Arabs.' So it's a meaning that goes ' I am at this level A' and it's going to get worse. The structure: As wretched as I am - this is a chunk, there is no separate meaning for the first as or the second as. The meaning is just 'I am wretched'. There is an English Christmas carol which contains the phrase, 'as poor as I am' and the meaning is 'I am poor' with the additional sense of linking to the next ppart of the sentence with a 'because/even though' So, 'even though I am wretched, my fate will be worse in hell As poor as I am, I can't afford a new car - Because I am poor I can't afford a new car. I hope this helps, it's not a definitive answer but I hope it gives you a sense of the meaning and structure. Best wishes, Richard

Hello! The word "as" in this context is used to compare the extent of something. So simply put; the character is saying that he is so wretched that the Arabs believe that his chastisement (or punishment) that awaits him in hell is far more severe and lasting.

In this particular case, it means "though" and "despite." It signals that even with the king's current sufferings, the Arabs believe he will suffer much worse later. It can be understood as: "Though I am already wretched, the Arabs believe I will be more wretched in hell" or "Despite how wretched I currently am, the Arabs believe I will become far more wretched."