Ali Baba, or the Forty Thieves — Reading Companion

(2 User reviews) 391

In Category - Fairy Tales

Authors: Unknown Published By : Project Gutenberg In Year : 2011

Key Word: Fairy tales; Arabs -- Folklore; Folklore -- Arab countries Target Reader: Readers of public-domain and historical texts

Book Edition: Project Gutenberg digital edition Book Language: en

Edition facts

Words 4,401

Reading time 20 min

Text sections 1

Ali Baba, or the Forty Thieves — Reading Companion can be approached with a clearer sense of reading commitment from its source measurements: 4,401 words, 20 min estimated reading time, and 1 detected text section.

The text analysis averages about 19.4 words per sentence, while the detected sections provide another way to judge how the source is divided.

Project Gutenberg metadata also associates the work with “Fairy tales,” connecting these edition facts with the source record’s subject description.

Source: Project Gutenberg record #37679

This editorial note examines how the opening, middle, and later excerpts of 'Ali Baba, or the Forty Thieves' guide a first reading, focusing on the tale's economical storytelling, the pivotal role of Morgiana, and the layered use of repetition and disguise.

Editorial Edition Score 4.4/5

★★★★★ ★★★★★

Calculated from edition completeness, EPUB availability, text structure and catalogue metadata. Not a user rating.

How this score is calculated

Description quality20 pts
Title & short description10 pts
Source metadata20 pts
Text length15 pts
Chapters / structure15 pts
EPUB file integrity20 pts

Total of 100 points, scaled to a 2.5-5.0 range. Editions with an empty description or a missing EPUB file are not scored.

Edition quality

File: pg37679

Read the Text

Cassim was buried with all due solemnity, and Ali Baba removed to the house of his deceased brother, of which he took possession.

The captain of the troop resolved to find out who possessed the secret of entrance into his cave, and disguising himself, went to the city early one morning, when, accosting the cobbler, he was told of the job he had, who for six pieces of gold, allowed himself to be blindfolded, and traced out the house of Cassim, which the robber marked with chalk. Buying nineteen mules and thirty-nine large jars, one full of oil, and the rest empty, the captain put a man into each jar, properly armed, and then proceeded to the street where Ali Baba dwelt. "Sir," said he, "I have brought this oil a great way to sell; as I am quite a stranger, will you let me put my mules into your courtyard, and direct me where I may lodge to-night?" Ali Baba welcomed the pretended oil merchant, offered him a bed in his own house, and invited his guest in to supper.

Morgiana, sitting up later that night than usual, her lamp went out; she took her oil pot in her hand, and approaching the first jar, the robber within said: "Is it time, captain?" she replied, "No, not yet;" so she ran back to the kitchen, and brought out a large kettle, which she filled with oil, set it on a great wood fire, and as soon as it boiled, she went and poured into the jars sufficient of the boiling oil to kill every man within.

The captain of the robbers arose to assemble his men. Coming to the first jar, he felt the steam of the boiled oil! He ran hastily to the rest, and found every one of his troop put to death. Full of rage, he forced the lock of the door, and made his escape over the walls.

Without letting any one into the secret, Ali Baba and Morgiana the next night buried the thirty-nine thieves at the bottom of the garden. The captain at length, however, determined to adopt a new scheme for the destruction of Ali Baba. He removed all the valuable merchandise from the cave to the city, and took a shop exactly opposite to Ali Baba's house. Ali Baba's son went every day to his shop. The pretended Cogia Hassan soon appeared to be very fond of Ali Baba's son, offered him many presents, and often detained him to dinner.

Ali Baba thought it was necessary to make some return to these civilities, and he invited Cogia Hassan to supper; Morgiana carried in the first dish herself. The moment she looked at Cogia Hassan, she knew it was the pretended oil merchant. She sent the other slaves into the kitchen, and waited at table herself; and while Cogia Hassan was drinking, she perceived he had a dagger hid under his coat. She went away, and dressed herself in the habit of a dancing-girl. As soon as she appeared at the parlor door, her master ordered her to come in to entertain his guest with some of her best dancing. Morgiana danced several times before the assembled company, until, coming opposite Cogia Hassan, she drew a dagger from her girdle and plunged it into the robber's heart. As a reward for her faithfulness, Ali Baba gave her in marriage to his son, and at his death put them in possession of his immense wealth.

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End of Project Gutenberg's Ali Baba, or the Forty Thieves, by Unknown

Continue Reading →

The story opens with a stark contrast between two brothers: Cassim, who marries wealth, and Ali Baba, who remains poor and cuts wood. The narrative wastes no time—within a few sentences, Ali Baba witnesses forty horsemen, learns the phrase "Open, Sesame," and discovers a cave full of gold. This rapid setup establishes a pattern of cause and effect that drives the entire tale. The reader is immediately drawn into a world where a single word can unlock immense fortune or deadly peril.

The Economy of the Opening

The first paragraphs of the text are remarkably efficient. In fewer than 200 words, the reader learns the brothers' economic situations, Ali Baba's occupation, the arrival of the thieves, the magic password, and the discovery of treasure. The prose is direct: "Ali Baba counted forty of them; each took a loaded portmanteau from his horse." There is no embellishment. This economy signals that the tale prioritizes action and consequence over description. The phrase "Open, Sesame" is introduced without explanation, trusting the reader to accept its power. The opening thus primes the reader for a story where objects and words have immediate, tangible effects.

Cassim's Fate and the Role of Greed

Cassim's death is swift and brutal. He forgets the password because he is overwhelmed by treasure, and the robbers "instantly put him to death." The text does not dwell on his emotions; it simply reports the outcome. This brevity underscores a moral point: greed leads to downfall. The episode also introduces a recurring structural element—the need for precise knowledge of the password. Cassim's failure to remember "Open, Sesame" is the first of several instances where a character's lack of attention or overconfidence leads to disaster. The reader is thus warned to pay close attention to details, as they will prove crucial later.

Morgiana's Cleverness and the Cobbler's Role

Morgiana, the slave, emerges as the story's most resourceful character. She hires the cobbler Mustapha to sew Cassim's body together, blindfolding him to keep the location secret. The text emphasizes her foresight: she gives him "two pieces of gold" and later the captain offers "six pieces of gold" to be led back. These monetary transactions highlight a theme of payment for loyalty and secrecy. Morgiana's actions are not explained; they are simply shown. The reader must infer her intelligence and loyalty from her deeds. This indirect characterization is typical of the tale's style, where actions speak louder than internal monologue.

The Captain's Disguise and the Jars

The captain's plan to hide his men in oil jars is a classic ruse, but the text presents it with minimal fanfare. He buys "nineteen mules and thirty-nine large jars, one full of oil, and the rest empty." The asymmetry—one jar of oil for thirty-nine men—is striking. The reader may wonder how the oil is used, but the excerpt cuts off before the plan unfolds. This abrupt ending leaves the reader in suspense, mirroring the incomplete knowledge of the characters. The captain's disguise as an oil merchant is another instance of the tale's reliance on deception and mistaken identity, a motif that runs throughout the story.

Repetition and Variation in the Password

The password "Open, Sesame" and its counterpart "Shut, Sesame" are repeated multiple times in the opening. This repetition serves both as a mnemonic for the reader and as a plot device. Each use of the phrase advances the action: Ali Baba uses it to enter the cave, Cassim uses it to enter but forgets it to exit, and the thieves use it to seal the cave. The variation—who says it, when, and with what result—creates a rhythm. The reader quickly learns that the password is the key to both fortune and death. This simple linguistic device anchors the entire narrative, making the story memorable and easy to follow.

As you read, pay attention to how the tale uses repetition—of phrases, actions, and character types—to build tension and deliver moral lessons. The story rewards careful observation of small details, such as the number of jars or the price of a cobbler's silence. The incomplete excerpt leaves the captain's plot hanging, inviting the reader to anticipate how Morgiana might foil it. This edition, published by J. Wrigley as a "colored toy book," suggests a visual element that the text alone cannot convey, but the brisk, action-driven prose remains the primary engine of the tale.

There’s something about Morgiana’s quiet cunning that stays with you long after the last page, the way an old friend’s cleverness lingers in memory. This companion made me feel like I was reading beside someone who knew the tale intimately. It also reminded me of wandering further into that same world with The Arabian Nights Entertainments — Volume 03 — Inside the Classic, where every turn feels familiar yet somehow new.