We all enjoy watching a rogue outsmarting and humiliating authority, and one of the most famous and popular Disney Renaissance movies that capture this spirit is “Aladdin”. The character is initially portrayed as a thief stealing bread and running around escaping Razoul and his guards, to avoid them cutting off his hands, as that is the punishment for theft, likely upheld by Jafar, rather than the dopey Sultan.
Okay, I'm gonna pick some nits here, i.e., but a bit nitpicky. First, I agree with Dan about the songs. Great way to introduce the character, set up the audience's emotional reaction to what he/she says and does. I've gotten wise to that over the years and so am immune to the effect, seeing the characters in a more rational way. Second, I must address the ethics here. Rooting for Aladdin, who is basically a lovable rascal as opposed to an underdog, isn't possible for me. Without protection of private property, even a loaf of bread that the baker worked hard to produce but that many tend to trivialize, we have no civilization. I'm also not sure that Islam existed when this story was written. Islam goes back to the 1200s or so. And they got chopping off thieves' hands from the local culture, not the other way around. That punishment seems overly harsh for theft. Even so, some deterrent is needed to preserve individual and property rights, which I hold as a prime value. Anyway, just my thoughts. Thanks for the thought-inspiring essay.
G.K. Chesterton once reflected that the death penalty for theft was quite reasonable in societies when you were stealing people's means of subsistence -- and that the people who decried it as primitive should note that in the United States, the penalty for horse theft often was death, because stealing a man's horse often meant he would die.
Good point. And to the baker, stealing a loaf of bread is quite serious. The inner me, though, tends not to like bloodshed where it can be avoided. I’d make the thief work for the baker awhile, see what it takes to make that loaf.
This is a great morning read! Definitely a decent bit of motivation before checking up on job applications. Turns out, even your everyday average people like Us have a bit in common with Aladdin
Yeah, we do and glad it helped serve to motivate you. We all need encouragement/a little hope in the morning to start the day especially when it comes to job-hunting.
Okay, I'm gonna pick some nits here, i.e., but a bit nitpicky. First, I agree with Dan about the songs. Great way to introduce the character, set up the audience's emotional reaction to what he/she says and does. I've gotten wise to that over the years and so am immune to the effect, seeing the characters in a more rational way. Second, I must address the ethics here. Rooting for Aladdin, who is basically a lovable rascal as opposed to an underdog, isn't possible for me. Without protection of private property, even a loaf of bread that the baker worked hard to produce but that many tend to trivialize, we have no civilization. I'm also not sure that Islam existed when this story was written. Islam goes back to the 1200s or so. And they got chopping off thieves' hands from the local culture, not the other way around. That punishment seems overly harsh for theft. Even so, some deterrent is needed to preserve individual and property rights, which I hold as a prime value. Anyway, just my thoughts. Thanks for the thought-inspiring essay.
Fair point, thanks for the excellent comment didn’t know that about the hand-chopping.
I think the hand chopping goes back thousands of years or at least to the days of the Roman Empire.
It does indeed
G.K. Chesterton once reflected that the death penalty for theft was quite reasonable in societies when you were stealing people's means of subsistence -- and that the people who decried it as primitive should note that in the United States, the penalty for horse theft often was death, because stealing a man's horse often meant he would die.
Good point. And to the baker, stealing a loaf of bread is quite serious. The inner me, though, tends not to like bloodshed where it can be avoided. I’d make the thief work for the baker awhile, see what it takes to make that loaf.
That’s a very good idea, and would teach Aladdin a few valuable lessons about hard work.
Provided, of course, it wasn't treated as a golden opportunity to steal. . . .
OTOH, if he actually did the work, the baker might have a new employee and Aladdin the way off the streets.
Both points are quite valid!
Thx
Agreed wholeheartedly.
Good point
This is a great morning read! Definitely a decent bit of motivation before checking up on job applications. Turns out, even your everyday average people like Us have a bit in common with Aladdin
Yeah, we do and glad it helped serve to motivate you. We all need encouragement/a little hope in the morning to start the day especially when it comes to job-hunting.
Well, except where they might chop off your hands when you are distracted? Good luck with the job search!
Agreed
ahhhhh Aladdin. The second best Disney film.
Also Naomi Scott as Jasmine in the live action film was an awesome choice.
Joe thinks it’s B&B then Lion King, I’m tempted to agree with you.
Though objectively Brother Bear might be the best in terms of themes and motifs. But Aladdin is one of my favourites.
Dan
It goes
1) The Lion King. (There is no such thing as The Lon King 2 lol)
2) Aladdin
3) I always struggle after at this one lol.
Good choices, and agreed there’s no such thing as Lion King 2. There is a Lion King ½ but not 2.
There's also no such thing as Home Alone 3, 4, 5 etc lol.
Agreed
I so enjoyed this; it was one of my favorites growing up! Thank you.
Welcome, it’s one of my favourites from back in the day also.
Disney and the world lost a first class lyricist when Howard Ashman died so young.
Agreed