Reading Notes: Part B for Week 6: Arabian Nights - Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 1
Like others, I have heard childhood tales of Aladdin and the lamp. I was fascinated with being able to read more literature regarding this tale. This first story illustrates the upbringing of Aladdin and how he discovered the power of the lamp.
The story begins with Aladdin, a young lad who did nothing but play in the streets all day long. His father, Mustapha, grieved such much of his son's idle playing and passed. Still, Aladdin kept playing in the streets.
One day, a stranger approached him as he was playing in the streets. The stranger, a famous African magician, proclaimed that he was Aladdin's long-lost uncle and bid him welcome him to his father's home.
The next day after spoiling Aladdin with a fine suit of clothes and merchandise, the magician led Aladdin to the sight of two mountains devised by a narrow valley. Throwing a powder upon the fire that Aladdin helped kindle, the magician discloses a square flat stone with a brass ring. The magician entices Aladdin to open up the stone and enter with promises of treasure and riches.
So, Aladdin was sent with the magician's ring and instructions of how to traverse the inside of the cave in order to retrieve a lamp. Yet, as Aladdin returned with the lamp, the magician became impatient. Aladdin refused to hand over the lamp until he emerged from the cave, and so the magician threw a rage and covered the stone over the cave once more.
Aladdin remains the the dark, crying and clasping his hands in pray. As a result of clasping his hands, he accidentally rubs the magician's ring and out emerges a towering genie, whom shall obey the wearer of the ring.
The story illustrates how willing Aladdin was to dive deep into an unknown cave in hopes of treasure. Since Aladdin grew up with so little, he was easily enticed by empty promises of treasures. The magician, chose to exploit Aladdin, as he was poor and had nothing; he meant to kill and dispose of Aladdin after he had retrieved the lamp. As such, the story also demonstrates the heartlessness of the magician and his drive for great power. Yet, Aladdin was smart and refused to hand over the lamp until he was safety out of the cave.
Bibliography: Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 1 from The Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Andrew Land and illustrated by H.J. Ford (1898)
The story begins with Aladdin, a young lad who did nothing but play in the streets all day long. His father, Mustapha, grieved such much of his son's idle playing and passed. Still, Aladdin kept playing in the streets.
One day, a stranger approached him as he was playing in the streets. The stranger, a famous African magician, proclaimed that he was Aladdin's long-lost uncle and bid him welcome him to his father's home.
The next day after spoiling Aladdin with a fine suit of clothes and merchandise, the magician led Aladdin to the sight of two mountains devised by a narrow valley. Throwing a powder upon the fire that Aladdin helped kindle, the magician discloses a square flat stone with a brass ring. The magician entices Aladdin to open up the stone and enter with promises of treasure and riches.
So, Aladdin was sent with the magician's ring and instructions of how to traverse the inside of the cave in order to retrieve a lamp. Yet, as Aladdin returned with the lamp, the magician became impatient. Aladdin refused to hand over the lamp until he emerged from the cave, and so the magician threw a rage and covered the stone over the cave once more.
Aladdin remains the the dark, crying and clasping his hands in pray. As a result of clasping his hands, he accidentally rubs the magician's ring and out emerges a towering genie, whom shall obey the wearer of the ring.
The story illustrates how willing Aladdin was to dive deep into an unknown cave in hopes of treasure. Since Aladdin grew up with so little, he was easily enticed by empty promises of treasures. The magician, chose to exploit Aladdin, as he was poor and had nothing; he meant to kill and dispose of Aladdin after he had retrieved the lamp. As such, the story also demonstrates the heartlessness of the magician and his drive for great power. Yet, Aladdin was smart and refused to hand over the lamp until he was safety out of the cave.
Aladdin's Lamp - Courtesy of Utah Krishna Temple
Bibliography: Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 1 from The Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Andrew Land and illustrated by H.J. Ford (1898)
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