Jafar: The Power Behind The Throne (Aladdin Film Analysis)
How Jafar, the puppet-master over the Sultan and the Kingdom, was able to exercise power from the shadows.
Aladdin, of the greatest animated films of all time, contains many themes hidden within. Themes which surely contributed greatly to its cinematic success. Due to the thematic nature of the plot and the vibrant scenery contained within both the animated and live-action film, Aladdin has become a timeless classic. From the plot to the character designs, to the special effects, to the captivating dialogue and song pieces, Aladdin has stood the test of time for the past 30+ years.
However, one major motif that has not been explored nearly as often comes in the form of the main antagonist Jafar. Elegant, cunning, sophisticated, smooth-talking, and precise in speech, yet deeply narcissistic, Machiavellian, conniving, resentful, and disdainful of those he deems inferior to him, Jafar is a quintessential villain.
Jafar is the royal vizier to the Sultan of Agrabah. However, in many instances, it seems that he holds more power than the Sultan himself. Jafar exercise power over the Sultan, and by extension, the entire kingdom. From the shadows of the Sultan, he pulls the strings and levers of the kingdom. He is the true power behind the throne, in a way. This motif of a sinister force behind the titular leader is a common motif in not only movies, but also in the pages of history. This motif is surely being acted out in many groups and organizations today.
So how does Jafar exercise power from behind the throne? That is what we will explore, and we will explore how many people in history have exercised power from the shadows.
Jafar: The Royal Vizier
Jafar’s role in Agrabah
Jafar, as the Royal Vizier, is the Sultan’s most trusted advisor. All indications point to Jafar being in this position of counsel for many years, so he has a great deal of influence over the Sultan. Due to his position, Jafar has fed the Sultan various advice and counsel when it comes to various decisions pertaining to the kingdom of Agrabah.
Jafar gained his intelligence, wiles, and socially tactical mind from his time living on the streets of Agrabah and working his way up to the position of the royal vizier. His slippery demeanor and cunning comes from years of hiding his hunger for power all the while practicing his manipulation skills with the people around him. From the streets of Agrabah, Jafar learned how to trick and deceive the people around him, in order to survive and enrich himself. From the dirty streets and ragged outskirts of the city, the lust for power and status was born from within Jafar. along with the skills to get to where he wanted to be. As a result, Jafar’s skills in manipulation and deception was so great that he was even able to fool the wise, intelligent Princess Jasmine and the savvy but kind-hearted ‘street rat’ Aladdin himself. Jafar explains his hunger for power and the origin of his street savvy to Aladdin in this way:
‘You see, I was once like you, a common thief. Only I thought bigger. Steal an apple and you’re a thief. Steal a kingdom and you’re a statesman. Only weak men stop there. You’re either the most powerful man in the room or you’re nothing.’
-Jafar
Jafar’s position of power even gives him authority and command over the palace guards, whom he commonly used to strong-arm his opponents to bend to his will. Often did Aladdin come into conflict with the palace guards, with the final incident being intended to rid Jafar of Aladdin for good. However, Jafar usually opts to use his less overt forms of power in the form of his wiles and guile.
Jafar’s greatest achievement on his path to ultimate power was becoming an all-powerful genie, albeit for only a few minutes. However, leading up to that point, Jafar spent many years manipulating the Sultan for his own gain and self-enrichment. So how was Jafar able to so easily manipulate the Sultan?
How can Jafar manipulate the Sultan?
First, we must look at the Sultan himself. The live action was able to portray the Sultan at least as a more wise, thoughtful, competent Sultan. It was just that Jafar is so skilled, strategic and silver-tounged, that he can pull the wool over anyone. Now compare the live action Sultan to the Sultan from the animated film.
The Sultan from the animated film seems, in all respects, a weak leader, just from the eye test. Bumbling, naive, fickle, and infirm in his purpose. The Sultan just seems like easy pickings for a man as slick, devious and psychopathic as Jafar. The Sultan does not seem to have the respect of the people around him, not even his own daughter princess Jasmine. The people around the Sultan like him, maybe even love him, but it does not seem like the Sultan command respect and reverence. The Sultan does not seem to have the wisdom and discernment of a leader. It even seems that the Sultan is easily swayed to and fro by different whims in his mind. The Sultan has the aura of the court jester, and not the king himself.
In the movie, Jafar is able to manipulate the Sultan, not only with his speech, but also with his magic sceptre shaped like a serpent. How fitting is that? Jafar’s sceptre is the shape of a serpent or snake, because Jafar is, metaphorically and figuratively, a snake. Jafar waits in the grass for the right time to strike, and when he strikes, the prey, which is the Sultan, can never see it coming. The snake is an animal that represents deception, cunning, and betrayal. The Bible shows why you can never trust a snake:
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
-2 Corinthians 11:3
It cannot be a coincidence that Jafar’s sceptre is in the form of a snake or serpent. The fact that Jafar transforms into a literal snake in the final battle is so fitting and symbolic of the entire movie, symbolising the moment when Jafar finally revealed his true nature as a snake.
The serpentine sceptre is also enchanted, and the eyes glow when Jafar utilizes it’s power to control the Sultan. When the sceptre’s power is activated, the Sultan is drawn into a mindless trance, acting out the bidding of Jafar. This is symbolic to the fact that people who are hopelessly manipulated by a crafty power-player are almost under a spell, like they don’t even know that they are being controlled. The words of a manipulator over someone as clueless as the Sultan is as powerful as a magical spell. Much like the words of the serpent in the Garden of Eden put Eve, the first woman, in a daze, doing it’s bidding:
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
-Genesis 3:1–6
Jafar also uses flattery and subservience to keep the Sultan within his grasp. Jafar is never seen criticising the Sultan, always praising the Sultan and ensuring the Sultan’s insecurities are allayed. Jafar knows when and how to give flattery. It is never in excess, but just enough that the Sultan stays dependent on him. In truth, Jafar holds a deep resentment and disdain for the Sultan. However, Jafar has mastered his emotions so much that the Sultan never recognizes the wolf in sheep’s clothing that is Jafar, only displaying emotional outburst in private. Very rarely does Jafar’s true nature leaks out to the Sultan until the very end. Due to Jafar being able to display his emotions in a way that moves the recipient, the Sultan always follows the lead of Jafar, as the Sultan does not have the same control over himself.
It is an obvious law of human nature that we flee what is unpleasant and distasteful, while charm and the promise of delight will draw us like moths to a flame. Make yourself the flame and you will rise to the top.
-Robert Greene (The 48 Laws of Power)
Finally, it is clear that Jafar is a master reader of people. He learns and studies the people around him, including the Sultan. As a result of his observations, Jafar can leverage his target’s weaknesses against them. No one is safe, and Jafar has used everyone’s weaknesses at some point for his own gain, including Aladdin and Jasmine, but especially the Sultan.
Behind a friendly, even subservient front, you can observe your enemies, get them to open up and reveal themselves. Get inside their skin; think as they think. Once you discover their vulnerability — an uncontrollable temper, a weakness for the opposite sex, a gnawing insecurity — you have the material to destroy them.
-Robert Greene (The 33 Strategies of War)
The best example is when Jafar influenced and manipulated the Sultan to sign into law a decree to have the princess (Princess Jasmine) marry the royal vizier (Jafar) if the princess cannot find a suitable prince after a certain time, with the purpose of eventually becoming sultan himself and wielding unlimited power over the kingdom. Jafar knew that the Sultan desperately wanted Jasmine to marry a prince, in order to preserve the lineage of the kingdom and ensure the aging Sultan has a worthy successor. Jafar played on the Sultan’s desperation and anxiety to get what he wanted:
‘Desperate times call for desperate measures, my lord.’
-Jafar
As a result of Jafar’s craftiness and machinations, Agrabah seemingly has a problem with poverty and corruption. The people are starving, there is crime everywhere in the streets, the palace guards do not enforce law and order but only enrich themselves. In the live action, there are even hints that surrounding kingdoms are considering war against Agrabah due to it’s weakened state, wanting to exploit its military weakness and conquer some of Agrabah’s land. All of Agrabah’s issues stem from the weakness of the Sultan, and ultimately to Jafar leveraging his power to impoverish the kingdom and enrich himself, by controlling his puppet the Sultan to make bad decisions for the kingdom. Such is the destructive effect of a secret power working in the shadows.
The Power Behind The Throne
Examples from History and the World Today
The world is filled with puppet-masters and crafty sycophants. They are, in secret, found pulling the strings in families, communities, corporations, even empires. For the untrained eye, they are nearly impossible to detect. Jafar is clearly based on nefarious characters from the real world.
As a result of these dark, twisted forces working for their own gain, they ruin the unity of families, they create division and discord in communities, they bankrupt corporations, and they even impoverish and break up empires. This has been a recurring example in history.
If a ruler pays attention to liars, all his advisers will be wicked.
Proverbs 29:12
One example includes Henry Kissinger, the former US Secretary of State and National Security advisor, who through deft diplomatic skills, tactful influence, and savvy social skills, was able to be the puppeteer behind the sitting presidents at the time, which were Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Many makes the case that Kissinger’s manipulations contributed to the country’s problems today.
Another example is Imelda Marcos, who was the first lady of the Philippines during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos. Many historians have made the case that her influence on her husband contributed to the country’s current impoverished state, which includes her lavish desires, her lust for gold, and her proclivity to move her husband in such a way that enriches the Marcos family.
Going back even further in history, the French diplomat Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand Perigold, or simply Talleyrand, was able to pull the strings of the great emperor Napoleon Bonaparte through his skillful deception and ability of using smoke screens and misdirection to hide his intent. His savvy kept Napoleon dependent on his skills and counsel, up until the time Talleyrand betrayed Napoleon to his downfall and exile.
In today’s world, many people speak of what is known in the USA as the ‘deep state’, which is an amorphous group of individuals that are the true power behind the country. They control the sitting presidents, the corporations, the courts, celebrities, and the common people. Through the deception, puppeteering, and treachery of the deep state, the country has experienced great turmoil as the deep state continues to enrich themselves.
Look into all the organizations and social structures you know, even your friendship groups. Every group has a positional leader. However, there is a great chance that they are not the true holders of power. Chances are that there is a figure in the shadows pulling the strings, exercising subtle control over the leader, and influencing the group to their will. If that is the case, what should be done? How can you deal with the Jafars in your group? Or even, what if YOU are the one holding the power behind the throne? What if YOU are Jafar? How should you go about this?
When your rivals cannot be sure what you are after, they will react in ways that often work against them in the long run. In fact they will become your cat’s-paws. If you disguise your intentions, it is much easier to guide them into moves that accomplish exactly what you want done, but prefer not to do yourself.
-Robert Greene (The 48 Laws of Power)
How to Deal with a Jafar
If you are a leader, and you have a ‘Jafar’ on your team, it can be detrimental. It could even destroy your organization. So, of course, if the wellbeing of the team organization, community, or even the people around you matters to you, something must be done. Now, Jafars are extremely hard to detect, so of course, the first step is to train your eyes to perceive whether or not a Jafar is on your team. The second step is to determine which course of action to take, especially if their influence and machinations have a detrimental effect. Here are some options:
1Let Them Be.
If the threat they pose is not great, you can get away with leaving them on the team or in your organization. However, if they are psychopathic, selfish, malicious, resentful, and truly malevolent like Jafar, and the effects of their treachery is obvious and great, it could be disastrous for everyone. It could even be the end of your organization or country. This course of action is unwise and weak, as Jafars are relentless and will tear you apart if you let them, while they reap the rewards of their deception.
2Remove them.
This is the wisest course of action. Removing them entirely removes their influence. It expels the serpent from the Garden of Eden. This might be difficult, especially if you feel like you have a relationship with them. However, it is absolutely necessary if you want your organization to prosper. In this case, you must remove your emotions from the situation and detach, always keeping in mind the greater good and the good of the people within your group or organization. Do not allow the luxury of guilt to cloud your judgement and to stop you from exiling the Jafar from your kingdom, because Jafar himself does not feel guilt in his quest for ultimate power.
3Play the Game Better than them.
This option is similar to option 1, however, this option is much more active and involved. This option requires to have the same savvy and skill in deft influence as your Jafar, if not greater. It requires outwitting, out-manoeuvring and out-strategizing Jafar. You use your skills in manipulation and deception to deceive Jafar in the direction of your choosing, all the while using your immense skills with people to maintain the group’s loyalty to you and keep their focus on the main purpose of the group. However, this option is the most risky, as sometimes trying to defeat your opponent requires you to be like them. You risk becoming Jafar himself: Machiavellian, narcissistic, disdainful, psychopathic, malevolent. So consider this option especially carefully.
The basic principle here is that is it easiest to topple a structure — a wall, a group, a defensive mind — from the inside out. When something begins to rot or fall apart from within, it collapses of its own weight — a far better way to bring it down than ramming yourself against its walls.
-Robert Greene (33 Strategies of War)
How to be Jafar
Now what if you are in a position of influence over a positional leader, or an individual of great power? Of course, don’t literally be like Jafar. Don’t be the dark force behind a throne, using your skills of influence for your own self-enrichment and gain. Rather, if you want to have influence over someone in power, use it for the greater good. Use your powers as Jafar to build up and support the Sultan in his quest to lead and grow the kingdom. Use your powers in subtlety and influence to pursue a noble goal, not only for yourself, but for the entire organization.
In order to achieve this, of course, you must develop your social skills. Learn how to manage your emotions when speaking. Learn how to influence with tact and care. Learn how to negotiate and communicate. Learn what makes your leaders and the people around you tick. Learn how to lead and manage different personalities. Jafar spent years developing his skills, and so should you.
The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
-Proverbs 12:18
Finally, when you have attained these skills, do not become like Jafar and be drunk with power. Jafar is a slave to his ego and his dark desires and ambitions. You want to remain level-headed when using these skills, and to not tie your ego into what you know you can do. The road to psychopathy is learning your powers and seeing yourself greater than you are because of them. Do not tie too much of your self-worth in your ability to move and influence people. Always tie your self-worth to the higher values and principles you live by, and use your skills with people to achieve goals that makes life better for those around you.
People will look to you as a virtuous leader if you use your skills for good and not for evil, even if you are just the power behind the throne. The greatest leaders use their skills and strategic mind to expand their influence, thus expanding and increasing their positive impact. That is the purpose God created you for.
You’re a leader only if you have followers, and that always requires the development of relationships — the deeper the relationships, the stronger the potential for leadership.
-John C. Maxwell (The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership)
Jafar is the quintessential villain that hides in the shadows and pulls the strings to everything. His skills and powers in manipulating and deceiving people are ones we should all be wary of in the people around us, but are also ones that we should cultivate to improve life. We don’t have to be Jafar, but we can still be a benevolent power behind the throne.
