Almoran and Hamet: An Oriental Tale

In Short

Written in 1761 by Samuel Johnson’s associate John Hawkesworth, Almoran and Hamet is an 18th-century Eastern tale exploring the consequences of unchecked ambition. Upon the death of the Persian king, twin brothers inherit a divided throne. Almoran craves absolute rule and sensual gratification, while Hamet governs with humility and justice. When both love the same Circassian captive, Almoran resorts to sorcery and supernatural shape-shifting to sabotage his brother. A enduring moral fable, it endures as a vivid critique of tyranny, showing how self-serving desires naturally destroy the person who pursues them.

The Story

Following the death of King Solyman of Persia, his twin sons, Almoran and Hamet, are called to rule jointly. Though raised together by the same tutors, their characters diverge sharply. Almoran is proud, secretive, and convinced that a monarch exists to exert unrestricted power over his subjects. Hamet, conversely, views kingship as a sacred duty grounded in benevolence, restraint, and divine law. The elder statesman Omar attempts to guide them toward a harmonious reign, but Almoran bridles at any restriction on his personal will.

The rift deepens when Abdallah, an ambassador from Circassia, arrives at court with his daughter, Almeida. Pure-hearted and exceptionally beautiful, Almeida catches the eye of Hamet after he rescues her from a sudden fire in her quarters. Their mutual affection grows, and Hamet arranges to marry her once the official period of mourning for his father concludes. Upon learning of their upcoming union, Almoran is consumed by intense envy and lust, resolving to break the engagement and claim Almeida for himself.

Desperate to secure absolute power and possess Almeida, Almoran accepts the aid of a dark Genius who equips him with a magical talisman. This sorcery enables Almoran to alter reality, engineer false omens that turn the populace against Hamet, and temporarily swap physical appearances with his brother. Using these transformations, Almoran usurps the throne, drives Hamet into exile, and attempts to deceive Almeida into accepting his advances while disguised as her beloved.

Despite these magical interventions, Almoran finds no genuine satisfaction. Almeida recoils from the unsettling changes in her suitor, and Hamet, even in deep distress, relies on his moral integrity and the wise counsel of Omar. Almoran's deceit triggers a cascade of confusion, mistrust, and political betrayal among his own courtiers. When Almoran attempts to trick Hamet into taking his own life by sending a disguised messenger with a dagger, his plot falls apart through unforeseen poisonings and internal betrayals.

In the dramatic climax, a divine messenger intervenes. The Genius reveals that his supernatural tests were ordained by Heaven to refine Hamet’s virtue through trial and allow Almoran’s wickedness to entangle itself. The magical illusions shatter: Hamet is restored to his true form, crowned the rightful ruler of Persia, and reunited with Almeida. Almoran’s body is petrified, leaving him transformed into a stone monument as a perpetual warning against tyrannical ambition.

How It Unfolds

The divided inheritance Solyman dies, leaving his twin sons to govern Persia jointly under the guidance of the wise counsellor Omar. Almoran secretly demands total autocracy, while Hamet embraces shared responsibility and legal restraint.

The rescue of Almeida During a fire in the palace guest-quarters, Hamet rescues Almeida, the daughter of a Circassian ambassador. The two fall deeply in love, and Hamet obtains her father's consent to marry once the royal mourning period ends.

The descent into sorcery Envious of his brother’s happiness and power, Almoran engages with a supernatural Genius. Armed with a talisman capable of altering perceptions and swapping physical appearances, Almoran overthrows Hamet and takes control of the palace.

The trials of deceit Disguised as Hamet, Almoran attempts to win Almeida's love, but his aggressive demeanor creates suspicion and terror. Meanwhile, the real Hamet, trapped in Almoran's physical form, suffers deep anguish but remains anchored by Omar's spiritual guidance.

The fatal entanglement Almoran’s web of lies collapses into paranoia as court intrigues turn violent, resulting in accidental poisonings and fatal stabbings among his co-conspirators.

Divine justice delivered The Genius reappears to announce Heaven’s final judgment, restoring Hamet to the throne alongside Almeida. Almoran is permanently turned to stone, transformed into a barren rock that marks his ultimate ruin.

The People

• Almoran: The elder twin, driven by an appetite for total dominion and unearned pleasure. Taught early to value the prerogative of birth, he views laws as insult to his royal will. His refusal to restrain his passions leads him to embrace sorcery, turning him into a tyrant who ultimately destroys himself.
• Hamet: The younger twin, guided by conscience, humility, and respect for divine law. He seeks happiness through shared virtue and considers power a vessel for protecting the vulnerable. Though framed, banished, and physically altered by his brother's dark arts, his steadfast integrity secures his ultimate restoration.
• Almeida: The Circassian ambassador's daughter, characterized by her unsullied mind and total lack of artifice. Loving Hamet for his genuine virtue, she resists Almoran's terrifying advances and maintains her moral clarity even when magic scrambles the identities of the men around her.
• Omar: The venerable advisor to the Persian court who serves as the story's moral compass. Possessing deep spiritual insight, he fears neither Almoran's threats nor earthly adversity, offering clear warnings that guide Hamet through his darkest trials.

In Its Own Voice

"Shall the son of Solyman be harnessed, like a mule, in the trammels of law? shall he become a mere instrument to execute what others have devised?"

Almoran angrily rejects his brother's proposal for a constitutional, law-bound government.

"It is the glory of a prince, to govern others, as he is governed by Him, who is alone most merciful and almighty!"

Hamet counters his brother's autocratic outburst by framing leadership as an act of divine emulation.

"The charm, which could be formed only by guilt, has power only to produce misery..."

The supernatural Genius reveals to Almoran the ultimate futility of using sorcery to bypass moral law.

What It's Really About

Almoran and Hamet operates as a philosophical inquiry into the nature of human happiness and political governance. Written during the European Enlightenment, the novella contrasts absolute despotism with constitutional monarchism, arguing that true authority rests on moral law rather than unbridled force. Hawkesworth examines the psychological mechanics of envy, illustrating how the pursuit of selfish gratification inherently corrupts the capacity to enjoy the very things obtained. The narrative insists that cosmic providence actively governs human affairs: virtue refined by suffering will eventually flourish, while vice inevitably constructs its own ruin. Through its supernatural transformations, the book poses a fundamental question: does power belong to the person who seizes it, or to the person whose character renders them worthy of the trust?

Why Read It Today

Readers drawn to 18th-century moral tales, classic fables, or early philosophical fiction will find Almoran and Hamet a compelling, fast-paced read. Hawkesworth writes with formal, stylized prose typical of Johnsonian literature, filling his text with balanced antitheses, elevated philosophical debates, and dramatic rhetorical speeches.

`` +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | KEY READING EXPERIENCE | +------------------------------------+------------------------------------+ | STRENGTHS | CHALLENGES | +------------------------------------+------------------------------------+ | • Swift, dramatic plot pacing | • Stylized, formal 18th-c. diction | | • Clear, explicit moral contrasts | • Orientalist court setting | | • Creative magical transformations | • Stiff, archetype-driven figures | +------------------------------------+------------------------------------+ ``

The story’s reliance on pseudo-Middle Eastern settings reflects the era's orientalist literary trends, using exotic palaces and genies as backdrops for Western philosophical debates. Yet behind the period conventions lies a remarkably modern exploration of identity, gaslighting, and the psychological decay caused by absolute power. Its swift execution makes it an accessible, engaging example of how Enlightenment writers used fantasy to debate the ethics of human rule.