Zena was Aladdin's mother and Cassim's wife who passed away during Aladdin's childhood.
Appearance
She was a lovely and thin tanned skin woman with black curled hair during her youth. How she looked like after Aladdin was born is uncertain, but she may have been older and a bit overweight, and probably bared little resemblance to her youthful self as Aladdin did not recognize his mother's young adult self upon seeing her.
Personality
In her youth, Zena was quite adventurous and very kind. In her final years, she seemed to be an honest woman who wanted Aladdin to live honestly and reprimanded him whenever he stole or lied. Despite this, she still loved and supported him the best way she could.
History
Background
After Aladdin was born, Cassim wished to provide more for his wife and son and give them the wealthy life they deserved, so he went out into the world to find his fortunate opportunity outside the dismal streets of Agrabah's slums. His wife and son, waited, but tragedy befell Zena and she passed away under unknown circumstances. When Cassim returned after discovering his fortune, he could not find his wife and son and was told that they had both died, and thus he left broken hearted. However no one was aware that his son Aladdin still lived.
Aladdin and the King of Thieves
When Cassim is finally reunited with his long lost son, Aladdin tells his father that Zena died while he was still at a young age. Cassim in turn tells him how he left the family to earn money for them but then heard that both she and Aladdin were dead, which is why he stayed with the Forty Thieves.
The Mysterious Amulet
Zena's youth was briefly explored in the Aladdin comic story, The Mysterious Amulet, where she's engaged to a lamp-seller named Hamid. The story portrays Zena as having been just as adventurous as her son, with a no-nonsense attitude towards those who judge her purely because of her gender. She was also a skilled fighter, having battled Aladdin one-on-one. The final panels show that she named Aladdin after a dog belonging to one of her patrons.
Development
The unnamed mother of Aladdin was conceived in the early stages for Aladdin; at one point she had a major role in one draft for the film. However, as development progressed, the character was removed from the film (along with many other characters) to streamline the story. However, on the Aladdin DVD, the scene where she and the Genie urge Aladdin to tell Jasmine the truth is included in the deleted scenes. In the actual film, it is stated in "One Jump Ahead" that Aladdin has no parents (i.e., he's an orphan).
Role in the film
In an earlier rendition, the plot of Aladdin revolved around Aladdin raised in the lower parts of Agrabah with his mother. At the beginning of the story, Aladdin's mother was very frustrated with her son because he was supporting their family with thievery and she wanted to be able to make a living through more honest means. One day, Aladdin's mother made plans to go out and sell a rug that she had previously woven, hoping to get a fair price for it. When Aladdin volunteered to do it for her, she begrudgingly let him but warned him to keep out of trouble. Unfortunately, Aladdin ended up losing the rug to a swindler.
Upon learning of this, Aladdin's mother became very distressed and despite her son's objections, agreed to sell her engagement ring. It was at this point that Aladdin realized that he had never been a very good son and that night as his mother slept, he secretly returned her engagement ring while vowing to one day make her proud via the song "Proud of Your Boy".
Her son returned from the Cave of Wonders with the Genie, Aladdin's mother was very pleased to find that the Genie could provide for them. She was even happier after Aladdin had made his wish to become a prince, because she was invited to come and live in the palace with him. However, she was still very displeased with her son for deceiving Jasmine and believed that he owed it to Jasmine to tell her the truth.
Gallery
Aladdin Marvel Comics Issue 6 The Mysterious Amulet
Concept Art
Behind the Scenes
She was originally going to be a part of the original film where she disapproved of Aladdin's stealing and wanted them to earn money honestly. Later, when she made a rug, Aladdin offered to sell it and she reluctantly agreed under the condition that he be careful. He unfortunately lost the rug to a swindler, forcing her to sell off her engagement ring. Aladdin decided from then on to live honestly. When he came back from the Cave of Wonders, she was happy he brought a Genie who could support them but upset he was lying about being a prince to impress the princess. Near the end of the film, when he revealed his deception to the princess, she hugged him, happy he was finally being honest.
Trivia
- Her name is of Arabic origin and can mean "beautiful ornament".
- The Sultana, Jasmine's mother, also died when Jasmine was young like Zena.
- There is a concept art image of the main cast that includes Aladdin's mother. Most of the character's names are below and under Aladdin's mother is a name; the first letter looks sort of like an "H" however it is very hard to make out.
- In a very early draft of the Aladdin script (from 1988), she is a character named MAMAN and described as: Aladdin's sweet, crusty, wise old Mom. If Gepetto had been a Mideastern matriarch, he might have been something like this.
- Interestingly, she is named Hatefeh in the Twisted Tales novel "A Whole New World: A Twisted Tale".
- In the comic, Zena is engaged to a lamp seller named Hamid. However, in the film, she was the wife to the King of Thieves, Cassim. It is possible that Hamid was a mistake on the author (the comics were made before Aladdin and the King of Thieves was made) or Zena may have left him once she met Cassim.
- She named her son after the name of a dog. Similar to "Indiana Jones", both in the films and in real life.
- She is briefly, indirectly mentioned in the live-action version of the film, along with Aladdin's father. Aladdin claims to Jasmine at one point that he had lost both of his parents at a young age.