This is a picture of Aladdin and his Princess Badroulbadour. This image is from the popular story “Aladdin's Wonderful Lamp” from 1001 Arabian Nights. This picture depicts Aladdin speaking to his Princess through his window. In the story this scene is described when the author says "The Princess ran and opened the window, and at the noise she made Aladdin looked up. She called to him to come to her, and great was the joy of these lovers at seeing each other again." (Traditional) This picture is an accurate representation of where the story actually takes place, in China.The location of the original text is unknown, all that is known is that it comes from China and brought to the Middle East through Syrian traders. I chose to show Beijing on the map because during the time that was the capital of China and where most people lived at the time. The name of the city was not Beijing at the time of Aladdin but, it is the current name of the city. The original setting is shown through the clothing of the characters in the image and the scenery in the background. The clothing that Aladdin is wearing is very similar to the clothing that wealthy people wore in China at this time. Princess Badroulbadour is also wearing a dress with vibrant colors that can also show wealth for the time. The setting is also clear because of the buildings and plants present in the picture. Most people believe that Aladdin comes from the Middle East because of the popular Disney movie and the fact that many of the stories in 1001 Arabian Nights originate from the Middle East. When creating the Disney movie, the producers “took the action out of its traditional Chinese setting and set it in the Middle East in the fictional city of Agrabah.” (Robinson, 14) Since the original text, the story of "Aladdin's Wonderful Lamp" has been retold and changed many times, this is probably why most people do not know that the original story is actually Chinese.

Works Cited:

Robinson, Mark A. The World of Musicals: An Encyclopedia of Stage, Screen, and Song. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

Traditional, . "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp." The Blue Fairy Book. Lit2Go Edition. 1889.

Web.<http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/141/the-blue-fairy-book/3132/aladdin-and-the-wonderful-amp/>. October 27, 2016.