Today I was going through my documents on my computer. I was deleting old files and such when I came across this 'essay'. I remember that I was preparing for a Mid. East Civ. exam, pre-writing my essays (the professor gave us the questions that would be on the [essay] exams ahead of time). I was trying to find information on Abu Muslim al-Khurasani because there was absolutely nothing about him in my Mid. East Civ. books or my notes - which were meticulously taken, if I do say so myself. To this day I have no clue who he was or what he did. I got so frustrated that I wrote my own essay, on another - probably more important - Abu. After I wrote this I gave it to my suitemate and friend Darcy, who thoroughly (and thankfully) greatly appreciated it. I've decided that it's so ridiculous and absurd that I didn't want it in my documents anymore. But I thought I'd preserve it somewhat by posting it on here!
Natalie Keene
Professor Darcy
Goof-off 1010
19 September 2007
Abu Muslim al-Khurasani
[Or as most normal people like to call him, ‘Abu the Monkey’]
Professor Darcy
Goof-off 1010
19 September 2007
Abu Muslim al-Khurasani
[Or as most normal people like to call him, ‘Abu the Monkey’]
Abu the Monkey was first developed as a friendly companion to the namesake of the Disney movie Aladdin in the monumental year of 1992. To most who watch Aladdin, Abu seems to be a mere monkey who tags along with his best and only friend, Aladdin. However, there is more to this perturbing primate than meets the eye.
Although many viewers, namely children, may not pick up on them, Abu has many bad traits and habits that leave numerous parents and adults concerned. For example, one of the opening scenes of the movie shows Abu helping Aladdin steal a melon from Agrabah’s marketplace. Sure, the melon may be juicy and delectable, and the two friends are surely quite emaciated, but stealing isn’t a quality to be praised. Later in the movie, when Abu and Aladdin meet the runaway princess Jasmine, Aladdin takes quite a liking to the lovely young lady. Abu, sensing his new position as ‘third wheel’, imposes his jealous self on Aladdin and Jasmine, speaking in monkey-talk that presumably is meant to be mean, rude and disrespectful. In the same scene, Abu shows that he is inhospitable and not generous when he takes an apple from the princess, which was given to her by Aladdin at his and Abu’s humble abode.
Another "unique" aspect of Abu’s character is the fact that he wears a vest and fez hat. Although this is most likely meant to help give Abu a better sense of character and offers a more parallel relationship to Aladdin, the familiarity is disturbing. Monkeys simply do not wear clothing.
Although many viewers, namely children, may not pick up on them, Abu has many bad traits and habits that leave numerous parents and adults concerned. For example, one of the opening scenes of the movie shows Abu helping Aladdin steal a melon from Agrabah’s marketplace. Sure, the melon may be juicy and delectable, and the two friends are surely quite emaciated, but stealing isn’t a quality to be praised. Later in the movie, when Abu and Aladdin meet the runaway princess Jasmine, Aladdin takes quite a liking to the lovely young lady. Abu, sensing his new position as ‘third wheel’, imposes his jealous self on Aladdin and Jasmine, speaking in monkey-talk that presumably is meant to be mean, rude and disrespectful. In the same scene, Abu shows that he is inhospitable and not generous when he takes an apple from the princess, which was given to her by Aladdin at his and Abu’s humble abode.
Another "unique" aspect of Abu’s character is the fact that he wears a vest and fez hat. Although this is most likely meant to help give Abu a better sense of character and offers a more parallel relationship to Aladdin, the familiarity is disturbing. Monkeys simply do not wear clothing.
One of the most important parts of the movie Aladdin is when the young lad goes into the Cave of Wonders – with Abu in tow, of course – in search of the majestic lamp. As Aladdin traverses the steep staircase to where the lamp sits, Abu busies himself with being distracted by a large gem. Disregarding a warning to touch nothing in the cave but the lamp, Abu touches the gem, which immediately starts to melt and cause quite the disaster situation. Soon enough, he and Aladdin are trapped in the cave. If only that little monkey wasn’t so selfish… chances are the two of them would never have been in that predicament. Sure, they had the lamp and met their new friend, Genie, but haven’t you ever wondered what would have happened if Abu were more selfless? There are certainly a plethora of possibilities. For example, Abu and Aladdin would have safely returned the lamp to the strange, old man. Granted, this would have been bad, seeing how the man was really the evil royal advisor Jafar, but at least Abu would have set a good example for movie viewers by obeying Aladdin.
Abu also aids Jafar in calling Aladdin something other than his real name. True, Jafar merely messes up Aladdin’s alias name, Prince Ali Baba, but the mere notion is really quite terrible. Jafar calls Ali Baba ‘Prince Abu-bu.’ I, for one, would not want my name mixed up in Jafar’s strange conversations with his crony parrot, Iago.
In conclusion, Abu the Monkey is, quite possibly, one of the most despicable, abominable, shameless, parsimonious Disney characters ever imagined and created. I would advise all to refrain from viewing the Disney so-called classic Aladdin, and instead view another, such as ‘The Little Mermaid.’ Yet perhaps that’s not such a great idea after all. The character Flounder has just as many, if not more, issues than Abu… but that’s another essay for another day.
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