Student: Zulfiqarov Jaloliddin Group: 320

Student: Zulfiqarov Jaloliddin
Group: 320
In the last month we have read some stories from “The Arabian Nights” (One Thousand and One Nights). And one of them is “Aladdin and the Magic Lamp” which I have enjoyed.
Aladdin is the son of Mustapha, a poor tailor. The young lad is lazy and carefree, whiling the time away with other boys like himself in the neighbourhood. This grieves his father so much that he dies. Despite that, Aladdin does not change his ways. One day a stranger appears, claiming to be his father’s brother who had gone away for 40 years. Aladdin’s mother thought her brother-in-law was dead. She and her son welcome the stranger into their home. However, the stranger is a magician and up to no good, he is after the magical lamp which has to be given to him. He locks Aladdin in a cave with the hope that the lad will die. Aladdin accidentally finds out that his wishes will be granted. The story reminds me that we should attempt to realize our dreams – Aladdin is in love with the Sultan’s daughter and he is not satisfied until she becomes his wife.
The story is a contradiction, because on one hand there are some deep lessons such as never giving up on your dreams, or doing what it takes to achieve your goals. On the other hand I find it very superficial when people are measured not by their character, but by the riches they possess. Unfortunately, that is still true today and in that way the tale is timeless. To win the Sultan’s daughter’s hand in marriage, Aladdin has to bestow many gifts upon the king.
For me, it was an enjoyable experience to read a story by itself, and then read it in the context of another story. It is known that The Arabian Nights is a story within a story. And Aladdin and the Magic Lamp is one of the stories within a larger story.