Aladdin starts as a street urchin in a Chinese city, living with his hard-working mother. He steals from merchants and shows disrespect for his mother's efforts, lacking ambition beyond his immediate situation.

A sorcerer posing as his uncle manipulates Aladdin into retrieving a magic lamp from a treacherous cave. After betrayal leaves Aladdin trapped, he accidentally summons a jinni by rubbing a magic ring the sorcerer gave him, enabling his escape. Aladdin later discovers the lamp's more powerful jinni, using its wishes to gain wealth, build a palace, and marry Princess Badroulbadour.

Despite his new status, Aladdin shows little growth. He reverts to his street companions and neglects princely duties. When the sorcerer tricks his wife into exchanging the lamp, the palace and princess vanish to the Maghreb. Blamed for the loss, Aladdin uses the ring’s jinni to locate them, travels to the Maghreb, retrieves the lamp, and defeats the sorcerer.

Aladdin's relationship with the princess develops rapidly, lacking emotional depth. His character remains static, without introspection or evolution even after consequences. The resolution sees him reclaim his position, but without evidence of lasting change in his attitudes or behavior.