Reading Notes: Arabian Nights, Part B

Original Story: "Alladin and the Wonderful Lamp" from "The Arabian Nights' Entertainments" by Andrew Lang, illustrated by H. J. Ford (1898). Source.

Lamp Photo Taken by Vicki Nunn. Source.

Alladin was an idle boy with a tailor father. The father was so sad that his son was a burden on society that he died.

A magician pretended to be Mustapha's (Alladin's father) merchant brother and brought Alladin to a secret entrance, which has a ring on it. He tells Alladin to take the ring, go into the magical cave, and bring him the lamp in return for treasures. The secret cave has jewel trees with fruit made of riches.

Alladin takes the fruit and the lamp. If Alladin touches anything else, he will die.

On Alladin's way out, the magician tells Alladin to give him the lamp already, but Alladin refuses while he is still in the cave. The magician traps Alladin in the cave.

Alladin rubs the lamp, and the genie from the lamp appears and saves Alladin, brings him home, gives him food on silver plates. Alladin sells silver plates for money, and years pass.

Alladin falls in love with the princess. The sultan agrees but Alladin has to wait three months. Three months pass, and the princess is engaged to the grand-vizir's son.

Alladin transports the princess to him, and the grand-vizir's son away. Alladin tells the princess he is her rightful husband. The princess is understandably upset at this. This happens multiple nights. Until finally the frightened newlyweds decide to divorce.

Sultan says that Alladin can marry the princess if he shows a certain amount of wealth. Alladin agrees but shows even more wealth than asked. He builds a palace for the princess, and the princess is instantly infatuated with the handsome and finely-dressed Alladin. Alladin and the princess marry, Alladin becomes a war-hero, and they live happily for some years.

Magician remembers Alladin and sells new lamps for old. The princess doesn't know that the lamp is magic and gives the lamp to him. The palace and princess are kidnapped by the magician, and Alladin needs to complete a rescue-mission or die.

Alladin comes up with a plan and the magician dies from poisoning.

Evil magician's brother pretends to be a holy woman and tricks the princess into wanting a roc's egg. The Roc is the genie's master? Genie disappears, and the evil magician brother is stopped.
No 3 wishes limit for a genie.

Retelling Ideas:

Alladin's father was the eldest brother of the two evil magicians and the most powerful and good of the three. He gave up his magic and his power to marry and have a family. He was the owner of the magic lamp and sealed it away so only a direct descendent could open it. He wanted Alladin to inherit his power, but Alladin was lazy and showed no worthiness for his inheritance. In grief, Alladin's father dies and his secret is forgotten. The evil magician was Alladin's uncle and needed Alladin to obtain his older brother's lamp. The rest of the story continues as normal.