how does the rag to riches theme play out in the story?

Many of the Arabian Nights stories tell of men who rise from poverty to wealth and prosperity. This is evident through Aladdin of "Aladdin's Lamp," Ali Baba of "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," and Sinbad in "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," among others. In each of these stories, the protagonist begins with very little to show for himself, but manages to rise in society both through luck and perseverance. In fact, many of the characters experience good fortune, but must capitalize on that good fortune in order to succeed. Many characters fall back into poor luck after initially securing a fortune, but manage to recapture it through such perseverance. The idea of a common man rising in status was not only a popular concept during the Islamic Golden Age; the idea that we can overcome our societal standings and attain wealth is popular even today and will most likely remain popular long into the future.