Arabian Nights is a collection of stories that has captured the imaginations of readers across the globe for centuries. With its diverse cast of characters, fantastical plots, and timeless themes, the collection remains a staple in literary history in many parts of the world, including Arabian countries, Europe, and throughout the West.
This is the story of the fisherman and the genie, a tale from Arabian Nights that’s one of the best examples of someone finding a genie trapped in a bottle, freeing it, and being tricked by the genie.
Most people in the West today associate genies with lamps and wishes and certain quirky magical powers. This is largely thanks to a few pieces of popular media, including I Dream of Jeannie and Disney’s version of Aladdin with that unforgettable blue genie who steals the show.
Genies are actually supernatural creatures with an incredible past that stretches back 5,000 years. They’re malevolent tricksters, benevolent spirits, and everything in-between. Many people today even believe genies are real, though they don’t expect them to grant any wishes. At least, not willingly, and not without some ironic consequences.