Reading Notes: Sinbad, Part B

As far as I can tell, the Voyages of Sinbad have no allegorical value. But I like allegories, so I'm going to make one of my own: what does Sinbad represent to his 21st century audience?

Though Sinbad as a character is mostly divorced from his voyages in modern media depictions, several elements from the original voyages are present in some way to modern audiences. Sinbad is, in almost every voyage, the lone survivor of the crisis that eats up, murders, or otherwise kills the rest of his crew. He survives sometimes due to luck, sometimes due to skill, and sometimes due to instinct. In many depictions, Sinbad's character echoes this by being either very lucky or very resourceful. Also, as a side note, he has virtually no relevant relationships with any crew members or love interests, and usually tends to be a singular hero. This in contrast to Odysseus, who at least managed to help a few of his crew members survive and become famous.

A few tropes associated with the modern Sinbad, however, have no roots in the original stories. While Sinbad was a sailor, he wasn't a swashbuckling pirate, as many are fond of depicting him. Instead, he was a merchant and an explorer, and used his wits more than physical force to escape danger. When he does fight, he's pragmatic--usually sneak-attacking vulnerable enemies.

In other words, the biggest things modern audiences associate with Sinbad, according to recent media, is sailing, exploration, luck and survival--even the Arabian setting is optional, though it is usually echoed visually. He has become more adapted to modern roles and tropes.

The epitome of this can be seen in Dreamworks' 2003 animated movie Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, in which Sinbad is a criminal and a pirate. The plot bears little resemblance to the original, though Sinbad and his crew do encounter the living island whale. Even the Arabian setting is absent. Instead, the setting and secondary characters are Greek, and Sinbad encounters bad guys like Odysseus' sirens and the goddess Eris.

I think this is what Sinbad represents to modern audiences--adventure, survival, and the fantastical elements that add to both.

Sources:
The Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Andrew Lang
TV Tropes: Sinbad the Sailor

Image:
Pirate Ship at Sopot Pier, taken by Starscream