Aladdin’s story

Aladdin’s story is an ancient Arabic story, with unknown origins. His first appearance in print was in The Book of a Thousand and One Nights, a compendium of Arabian, Persian, and Indian myths and legends, and the very book he gave us to Ali Baba and Sinbad. The name ‘Aladdin’ is actually ‘Ala ad-Din’, and the story probably comes from Syria.

The version of Aladdin that was written in 1709 is largely the one we know today, although there are some key differences. Aladdin, a poor young man, is sent by a sorcerer to obtain a magic lamp from a cave, but is not told that it is protected by a curse. Angered by the lie, Aladdin keeps the lamp and discovers that a genie lives inside who can grant him wishes. He uses this power selfishly, to get rich and marry a princess, but his new wife, not knowing the power of the lamp, gives it to the sorcerer.

When the sorcerer uses his newfound power to take Aladdin’s wife and riches, Aladdin is reduced to nothing. However, he still has a ring that the sorcerer gave him before entering the cave, and the ring is capable of summoning another, less powerful genie. With the help of this new genie, Aladdin defeats the sorcerer.

As you can see, the beginning is familiar, but the ending is probably quite different from what you’ve heard. There are other elements that are completely omitted from modern narratives: Aladdin is tricked by a Jew and then helped by a Muslim at one point, for example, which is now considered incredibly anti-Semitic.

Regardless, the overall meaning of the story is clear. When Aladdin uses the lamp to get rich and marry the princess for the first time, he hasn’t really earned it. Only once he has gone through a struggle and proven his worth, he can be entitled to his new position.