In the bustling city of Baghdad, there lived a poor woodcutter named Ali Baba. One day, while gathering firewood in the forest, he heard voices and hid among the trees. To his astonishment, he saw a band of forty thieves approach a large rock. Their leader shouted, "Open, Sesame!" and the rock slid aside, revealing a cave filled with treasures. The thieves entered, and after a while, they emerged and left. When the coast was clear, Ali Baba approached the rock and repeated the magic words. The cave opened, and he entered, amazed by the gold, jewels, and silks piled inside. He took only a few bags of gold coins, enough to improve his life, and hurried home.

Ali Baba's wife was overjoyed by the gold, but she wanted to measure it. She borrowed a measuring cup from Ali Baba's wealthy brother, Cassim. Cassim, a greedy merchant, noticed the cup had a coin stuck to its bottom. He confronted Ali Baba, who confessed about the cave. Cassim forced his brother to reveal the secret words and rushed to the cave. Inside, he was so dazzled by the treasure that he forgot the magic words. When he tried to leave, he could not remember the phrase. The thieves returned and found him trapped. In their fury, they killed Cassim and left his body as a warning.

Ali Baba discovered his brother's fate and, with the help of a clever slave girl named Morgiana, brought the body home. They pretended Cassim had died of natural causes, but the thieves soon realised someone else knew their secret. The leader vowed to find the intruder. He sent a thief to scout the town, but Morgiana recognised him from the markings on the doors she had chalked. She foiled the thief's plan by marking all the houses similarly. The leader then tried a different approach: he disguised himself as an oil merchant and hid his men in large oil jars, planning to attack Ali Baba's house during a feast.

Cassim forced his brother to reveal the secret words and rushed to the cave.

Morgiana, ever watchful, discovered the plot when she heard one of the thieves whisper from a jar. She quietly boiled oil and poured it into each jar, killing the hidden men. When the leader came to summon his men, he found them dead. Enraged, he fled but later returned disguised as a merchant, seeking hospitality. Ali Baba, unaware of the danger, welcomed him. During dinner, Morgiana performed a dance with a dagger. In a swift move, she stabbed the leader, saving Ali Baba's life. Ali Baba, grateful for her loyalty, freed her and gave her to his son in marriage.

This tale, collected in Andrew Lang's The Blue Fairy Book, is a classic example of the "open sesame" motif—a magical key that grants access to hidden wealth. The structure follows a clear pattern: a discovery, a betrayal, a series of escalating threats, and a clever resolution. The motif of the secret password appears in many cultures, symbolising the power of knowledge and the danger of greed. The thieves' cave represents forbidden temptation, while the repeated number forty suggests completeness and order. Morgiana, the archetypal clever servant, uses wit and courage to overcome brute force, a common theme in folklore.

Retelling choices shape how we understand the story. Some versions emphasise Ali Baba's honesty, while others focus on Morgiana's bravery. The cultural context of medieval Baghdad adds layers of meaning about trade, hospitality, and justice. Modern retellings might highlight the role of women or critique the thieves' violent methods. By examining these choices, we see how a simple tale can carry complex ideas about morality, loyalty, and the consequences of greed. The story invites us to consider whose perspective matters and how changing one element—like the password or the heroine—can transform the entire message.