Jinn / Genie / Demon

Jinns are also known as Genies but in Arabian Nights they are shown to be demons and not genies. When thinking of Genies and Arabian Nights you may think of Genie in Disney’s Aladdin, but that is not the representation shown in these stories. The Genie in Aladdin was funny, and kind hearted and shown to be a good character. In Arabian nights, the Genie s referred to as a Jinn, or Evil Spirit. When the Jinn was released, he immediately thanked the Fisherman and then told him he was going to die. This short interaction was the first indication that the Jinn was much different from the Disney version.

In order to survive, the Fisherman tells the Jinn he doesn’t believe that he really came from the bottle he found in the ocean. This upset the Jinn and made him want to prove he came from the bottle and so he condensed his body and had the vapor enter the bottle. The moment the Jinn was all inside, the Fisherman closed the bottle once more.

The Jinn hoped to be free and promised the Fisherman he would never hurt and harm him if he released him, as well as help him get what he wants. The Fisherman agreed and was taken to a pond in the mountains, where he could catch exotic fish to take to the Sultan. The fish could not actually be eaten, but intrigued the Sultan. When the fish were to be cooked, a person would appear and question those who were cooking it, and by the time the fish was flipped, it was burned and inedible. This led to the Sultan wanting to see where the pond the fish came from. At the pond they found a Prince. After talking to the Prince, They figured out the city was enchanted and soon freed the city from it.  This was all a result of the Fisherman bringing the fish, and so he and his family were rewarded by the king and became the “richest man of his age” proving that the Jinn kept his word.