Something that always bothered and confused me about Disney's Aladdin was the ease at which he could suddenly "not be a prince" at several points in the movie, despite the fact he has specifically wished to be a prince. If I wish for 3 arms, do I not have 3 arms? it was a thorn in my side it what has always a Disney classic in my heart.
The other day I was watching the movie for the first time in many years, and the truth struck me like a thunderbolt: Aladdin did not wish to BE a prince, he wished for the Genie to MAKE him a prince. Everything that transpires after Aladdin has made his first wish was simply the Genie (using his omni-potent powers to pull the strings behind the scenes) fulfilling Aladdin's wish to be made into a prince. At the end of the movie, he marries a princess. He now IS a prince. The Genie's work is NOW completed. The dudes at Disney clearly had some blade runner level shit going on when they wrote the script.
The Genie states several times in the movie that his powers are both phenomenal and cosmic, virtually omnipotent and only restricted by a few rules. He also states he can see at least one million years into the future. (certainly at least to the invention of automobiles) Dressing Aladdin up, giving him an elephant and a parade to make a fantastic entrance into Agrabah are simply means to an end. The reality is Aladdin doesn't even want to be a Prince, he just wants Jasmine. When the Genie's mission is about to succeed Aladdin suddenly gets cold feet. The Genie -seeing into the future- allows his lamp to be stolen by Jafar and the hijinks that ensue because he knows that Aladdin's heroic efforts to set things right will convince the Sultan to change the law, and thus let Aladdin marry Jasmine, and Aladdin will then BECOME A PRINCE. Aladdin doesn't even have a choice, he can't "undo" his wish, the wish was made and magical contract bound.
What the genie is doing can easily be seen after Jafar is banished to the cave of wonders at the end of the movie. Everything goes back to the way it was, everything Jafar did was undone, people, objects and animals un-transform. The palace magically teleport's from the mountain back to the city. Did it ever really move? Did someone magically wish for all these things to be undone? The Genie's knows his ultimate mission is nearing it's conclusion. So he resets the sideshow, the purpose of which was to convince the Sultan Aladdin should be a prince and make Aladdin rise to his inevitable royal promotion, both in spirit and mind. The Sultan, clearly traumatized at crackers forcibly inserted into his mouth for hours on end (in some kind of pseudo-sexual prison nightmare) would happily make a homeless thief the next ruler in place of Jafar. It's an experience so disturbing he instantly rewrites the very laws his culture is founded upon. The Genie needs to demonstrate that true worth lies within-a Diamond in the Rough. These length's were necessary since Mind Control, Murder and Resurrection are the three things the Genie can never do. The truth is nobodies life was ever even in real danger. The Genie has been using his mystic Machiavellian scheme since minute one to set Aladdin up as a prince. Jafar's wishes were meaningless, he was a pawn in a greater game.
The second Aladdin made his first wish Jafar was doomed-Jafar was in the Genie's way. The Genie is omniscient and used this rivalry to position Aladdin into prince-hood. After Jafar's part had been played out the Genie had no more use for him, since the Genie can't kill, the Genie did the next best thing and buried his sorry ass in a cave for ten thousand years. Think about the magnitude of that amount of time, it's a fate worse then death. The Genie is an unstoppable engine of destruction on a mission to fulfill Aladdin's wish by any means necessary.
We must also look at Aladdin's wish very carefully. He does not wish to "BE" a prince. He wishes for the Genie to "MAKE" (by force if necessary) him a prince. Aladdin may actually be aware of whats really happening the whole movie. This is first hint we have of this is scene in the palace Garden with the Genie. Aladdin's basically asking the Genie how to make Jasmine fall for him, and the Genies advice is to "Tell her the TRUTH". What truth? That hes a street rat? But didn't he wish to be a prince? Is he not NOW a prince? If I was Aladdin I would have thrown this in the Genies face. But Aladdin doesn't. Perhaps this is a sign that Aladdin, the clever little devil he is, knows what game is being played, and that he is not a real prince yet. (on many occasions, such as deceiving the Genie into a free wish, tricking Jafar ect. Aladdin proves his main attribute is his quick mind)
When the immortal Genie lays the sad news on Aladdin he can't make someone fall in love with him, Aladdin's dexterous and cunning human brain works furiously to find a way around it. So he has a genius stroke. He wishes for the Genie to make him a prince. The creation of a kingdom has not been wished for, only that Aladdin is made a prince. And what a coincidence: the closest kingdom's princess just happens to be Aladdin's dream girl. Aladdin knows what he really wants, as does the Genie, and perhaps as a reward for Aladdin's cleverness and out of geographic and language restrictions, the Genie has no choice but to make Aladdin the prince of Agrabah. Well played, Aladdin. Well played.