Disney’s Aladdin
Introduction
The Aladdin films are among Disney’s best movies. Their popularity is, in part, pegged to the writers’ abilities to bring out the characters’ clashing interests. This movie also has additional advantages that parents and teachers can benefit from. Like other Disney films, moral lessons are attached to the movie. Even further, some of the themes in the film highlight every-day challenge the present-time society is grappling. By critically analyzing the Aladdin film, this essay will attempt to discuss the pertinent lessons one can grasp from the story and the relevance of the tale in our society today.
Part I; Moral Lessons and the Film’s Overall Theme
The primary moral lesson from the film is that individuals should be true to themselves. Aladdin firmly believes that to marry the Princess, he will have to pretend to be someone he is not. Toward that end, Aladdin lies to Jasmine that he is a Prince. Later in the film, he realizes that his new outside appearance did not change his true inner self. He, therefore, reveals his identity to the Princess. Despite the disclosure, Jasmine is still attracted to the flawed Aladdin. Just like him, most individuals often believe that they need power, success, and greatness to be accepted in society. This makes them live dishonest lives, striving to gain people’s approval. But ultimately, it is people’s true selves that make them accepted in society.
A second moral lesson Disney sought to convey is that human beings are willing to go beyond expectations to fulfill their hearts’ desires. In the film, major characters are continually seeking power, love, and freedom (MacNair). Aladdin, realizing that his societal position will be an obstacle in his quest to marry Jasmine, lies to Jasmine about his real identity. Jafar, desperate to ascend to power, considers consulting the most powerful sorcerer. Jasmine, in search of freedom, furtively leaves the house against her father’s command and goes to the marketplace.
The overall theme in the movie is honesty.The film concisely underlines the importance of this virtue. Aladdin discovers that it is extremely difficult to live up to his lies. For him to sustain his relationship with Jasmine, he will have to maintain his apparent royal status for the rest of his life. Furthermore, he cannot free the Genie as he had promised. After realizing that he cannot keep up with the lie, he reveals the truth, setting himself free. The Genie further reiterates this theme. Much as he is an expert in altering the truth, he constantly encourages Aladdin to tell the truth.
Part II; Relevance of the Tale Today
Whereas the original story was written more than 200 years ago, it is still relevant in contemporary society. Doubtlessly, Aladdin reminds us always to be true to ourselves. The film motivates individuals to pursue greater awareness of their lives. This will suffice in enabling people to identify their real identity and stay true to themselves. The present-day society is witnessing a surge in people’s desire to garner both physical and emotional acceptance. To that end, people are pumping their egos with grandiose delusions to seek approval and avoid ridicule. Nonetheless, faking success will not lead to career advancement as fast as hard work (Quast). Aladdin is encouraging everyone to establish unique characteristics that will enable them to gain clarity of themselves. With these defined characteristics, one will stay true to their personality.
Furthermore, the film asserts that once one is honest with oneself, they will be able to make positive life changes. In contemporary society, people are reluctant to make positive changes in their lives. The fear of facing unknown liberation and dishonesty among people forces them to contend with familiar misery. Once Aladdin discovered the values which were essential to him, he immediately identified that his dishonesty to himself and others made him unhappy. He changed this by deciding to reveal his real identity.
From the story, we can teach our children the need to acknowledge their self-worth. The protagonist is confident that pretending he was a Prince was the only way he could marry Jasmine. Also, after years of being called a desert rat, he believes that he is undeserving of love. Essentially, he reckons that to get loved, one must put on the mask of a successful person. With the rise of social media, incidences of low self-esteem are likely to spike (Brigden). This is because there will likely be increased instances of comparisons among people. We can, therefore, use Aladdin’s story to remind people that there is no need to pretend to be anyone other than one’s true self.
Conclusion
In general, this film is a valuable learning tool. Aladdin highlights the need to acknowledge one’s self-worth and encourages people to search, from within, the key to success. Additionally, it also sheds light on how individuals overstep boundaries to attain set goals. Notably, the film reminds its viewers of the significance of being truthful. Parents and teachers should, therefore, distill essential lessons from this story to their children.
Works Cited
Brigden, Janthea. “What Can Disney’s Aladdin Teach Children About Self-Worth? • Nipperbout •.” RSS, 2019, www.nipperbout.com/tips-and-tales/what-can-disneys-aladdin-teach-children-about-self-worth. Accessed 2 May 2020
MacNair, Rachel. “Jasmine, Aladdin, and the Power of Nonviolence.” Consistent Life Blog, 15 Nov. 2019, www.consistent-life.org/blog/index.php/2019/06/04/jasmine-aladdin-and-the-power-of-nonviolence. Accessed 2 May 2020
Quast, Lisa. “Why You Should Stop Trying To ‘Fake It Till You Make It’.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 14 Aug. 2017, www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2017/08/14/why-you-should-stop-trying-to-fake-it-till-you-make-it/. Accessed 2 May 2020