Moon explains in Yellowface: Creating the Chinese in American Popular Music and Performance, 1850s-1920s: While Chinese Muslims did exist - the Hui being the most famous, dating back to the beginnings of the Silk Road - Galland’s version of the story is indicative of the Orientalist tradition of Western storytellers that sees the conflation of diverse Eastern cultures into one. The Sultan is referred to as such and not in Chinese terms as “the Emperor,” and other characters are clearly also Muslim, not Buddhist or Confucians, as their dialogue is filled with devout Muslim remarks and platitudes. The assumption of a Middle Eastern origin comes mainly from the character names, like Princess Badroulbadour, which means “full moon of full moons” in Arabic. She also tricks Jafar ( Jonathan Freeman) into thinking she's falling for him in the final battle, providing a distraction for Aladdin.Galland’s tale isn’t even set in the Middle East - it’s actually set in a Chinese city, and Aladdin is not an orphan but a poor Chinese boy living with his mother, with the only other location mentioned in the story being Maghreb, North Africa, where the sorcerer is from. In doing so, Jasmine displays her intelligence and cleverness enough to outsmart Aladdin (who is cunning himself). She recognizes him from the day in the marketplace and tricks him into mentioning Abu to prove it. Jasmine sees through Aladdin's disguise when he pretends to be a prince. Despite her inexperience, she is a fast learner. As she spends the day in the marketplace, she meets Aladdin and learns to vault from one rooftop to another through a quick demonstration. When she overhears Aladdin (in his prince disguise) and her father talking about her, she insists that she "is not a prize to be won." Jasmine showcases her spunk and resourcefulness when she runs away from the palace to experience life beyond the palace walls. She refuses every suitor her father finds for her, sending them away in a hurry - and she knows her worth. Jasmine isn't the focus of the film, yet her willful defiance earned her a place in the Disney Princess lineup. When Aladdin shows up in disguise, Jasmine wants nothing to do with him, but she discovers that he is the same boy from the marketplace, and her tune changes. But according to tradition, Jasmine can only marry a prince. She sneaks out of the palace, meets Aladdin, and falls in love. Her father wants her to hurry up and marry, but Jasmine doesn't want to marry for anything short of love. She longs for freedom, feeling trapped and sheltered by the palace with only her pet tiger, Rajah, for a friend. Jasmine may be a secondary character, but she is given a strong plotline throughout the movie. Even though the plot revolves around Aladdin, Jasmine carves out her identity as a strong and independent princess. In rewrites, Jasmine was made a stronger character, but she still received limited time. This idea was thrown out, and Jasmine became the princess and the love interest. At first, the princess would have been a brat for comedic relief, and Aladdin would have a tomboy love interest who he ultimately chooses over the princess. In the original concept, she wasn't even going to be that. Since becoming an official Disney Princess, some have labeled her a female lead or referred to Jasmine and Aladdin as the protagonists, but Jasmine plays the role of a secondary character and the love interest. Instead, that role goes to Aladdin ( Scott Weinger). Jasmine didn't get the chance to be the hero of her story.
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