Reading Notes: Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, Part B

While reading the story Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp based from the overall story Arabian Nights I thought that turning the tables could be potentially cool and interesting. Instead of the main character being Aladdin I would flip the script by having the false uncle, known as the evil magician, be portrayed as the main character. I think adding this different perspective could be fun and intriguing for the readers and myself. I would add a couple more characters in the story so that transitioning would be easier. For example, in the beginning, the magician would have to find out about Aladdin and his recently deceased father. Therefore, I would create a small character (such as a snake) that would remain by the magician’s side carrying out the tasks of some sort of assistant. The use of this character would be to whisper ideas, information, or opinions into his ear which could possibly be used as an advantage throughout the story. Being so, this is how the magician would find out about the death of Aladdin’s father and his crippled demeanor. The snake, being the magician’s servant, will later perform his routine tasks for the magician’s brother once he is murdered by Aladdin after stealing back the lamp. The character of the snake servant will help connect and continue on with the brother’s vengeance to finish the story.  

From the beginning to the end, the reader will take in different obstacles that the magician faced throughout his distasteful journey that was unseen in the original story. He will have to find his way back to China through the treacherous travel and complete his plan up until his death. There will be different dialogue along with different perspectives of each scenario along the way. Furthermore, the magician’s brother will soon replace his position as the main character up until his death too. I liked this idea of rearranging the characters because most times stories don’t portray the villain as the main character. I also liked incorporating the snake because he shares the same perspective that the audience has which helps put together the malicious side of the story.

I didn't realize there was a snake in the movie, Aladdin. However, the evil snake acting as a servant in my story would probably look something like this. 

Link to picture

Bibliography: This story is part of the Arabian Nights unit. Story source: The Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H.J. Ford (1898). Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp