The Tale of the Melon City
By Vikram Seth
About
the Author
Vikram Seth is an Indian novelist and poet. He
has written several novels and poetry books. He has received several awards
including Padma Shri, Sahitya Akademi Award, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, WH Smith
Literary Award and Crossword Book Award.
Vikram Seth was born on 20 June, 1952 in
Kolkata, West Bengal. His father, Premnath Seth, was an executive of Bata Shoes
and his mother, Leila Seth, a barrister by training, became the first female
Chief Justice of Delhi High Court.
He studied at St. Michael's High School, Patna
and at the The Doon School in Dehradun. He also studied at St. Xavier's High
School, Patna. Later he moved to London and studied Philosophy, Politics and
Economics at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He then pursued a Ph.D. in
Economics at Stanford University. After graduating from Doon, Seth went to Ton
bridge School, England to complete his A-levels.
Having lived in London for many years, Seth now
maintains residences near Salisbury, England, where he is a participant in
local literary and cultural events, having bought and renovated the house of
the Anglican poet George Herbert in 1996, and in Jaipur, India.
Vikram Seth has published six books of poetry
and three novels. In 1986, Vikram Seth wrote The Golden Gate, his first major
work. The publication of A Suitable Boy, a 1,349-page novel, propelled Seth
into the public limelight and won the WH Smith Literary Award in 1993. An Equal
Music, published in 1999, deals with the troubled love life of a violinist. He
was awarded the commander of the order 3 of the British Empire CBE on February
2001.
In 2006, he became a leader of the campaign
against Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, a law against homosexuality. His
mother has written about Seth's sexuality and her coming to terms with it in
her memoir.
Introduction
The tale is humorous even
though it is unrealistic and unbelievable. It ridicules the king, the
ministers, the wise men and the common people. All of them behave foolishly. No
one of them applies his brain. The tone of the poem is satirical.
Summary
It is a humorous poem which shows how stupid the
king, the ministers and the people of a certain kingdom were. It was, in fact,
a kingdom of fools. Once the king ordered
the construction of an arch over the main street to impress the onlookers. The
arch was made. When the king rode down the thoroughfare, his crown was knocked
down. The king at once ordered that the chief of builders should be hanged.
While being led to the gallows the victim shouted that the fault lay with the
workmen. The king called the proceedings to a halt and ordered that the workmen
should be hanged instead. The workmen blamed the masons who in turn blamed the
architect. The architect pointed out that it was the king himself who had made
certain amendments in the plans. This put the king in a tricky spot and he
called for advice from the wisest man. The old man said the culprit was the
arch as it had knocked off the king's crown, so it must be punished. The
Councillor expressed his view that something which had touched the king's head
could not be put to so much disgrace. So ultimately the king set aside
consideration of guilt and looked for a man who would fit the high noose. The
only one tall enough was the king who finally was hanged. It was just as well
that this happened as the public might have rebelled against him. The ministers
then announced that the person who passed the City Gate next would choose the
ruler. An idiot was questioned and he replied that a melon should be the
king. Thus the melon was crowned and carried to the throne. People did not
bother much about who or what their king was. They only wanted that they should
be left to do whatever they desired.
Summary
in Points
1. Once there was a king who was just and cool headed.
2. One
day the king ordered to construct an arch over the main highway.
3. Soon the arch was built. The next time
when the king rode through it, his crown banged the side of the arch and fell
from his head. The ‘peace-loving’ king lost his peace in an instant and ordered
to hang the chief of the builders.
4. When the rope and gallows were arranged
and the culprit was led to the gallows, the innocent chief of the builders
cried out that he was not guilty and placed the blame upon the workmen.
5. The king was very wise, too, so he
asked to halt the hanging and ordered to hang the workmen.
6. The workmen were brought to the gallows
to be hanged. The crowd watched the proceedings. When they were under the
gallows, the workmen cried out that the fault was not theirs! They blamed the
masons who made the wrong bricks.
7. Again the king had to halt and decide.
When the mason was brought to the gallows, he put the blame on the architect
who made the plans. Well, the mason escaped and the architect was called to the
gallows.
8. The architect was smarter than the rest
of him. He was so bold that he blamed the king for having made a little changes
in the plan that he drew for the arch. Everyone turned to the king.
9. The king saw that he had brought him into
chaos. Being wise, he ordered his men to bring the wisest man to advise him.
They found a man who was so old that he could neither walk nor see. They
thought he was the wisest and carried him to the king.
10. The wise man opinioned that the king
was not guilty, but the arch. Having knocked the king’s crown, the arch was to
be hanged now.
11. Well, a wise man is to be respected.
The king, having made a narrow escape, ordered the arch be hanged.
12. While being carried to the gallows,
the arch didn’t cry out for help, but someone else remarked it was unjust. How
can you hang an arch that touched the king’s crown! The crowd listened.
13. The king saw all eyes turning to him
once again for it was his turn again and this time it would fix him forever.
14. An idea struck the king’s brain and it
was soon decided that anyone whose height matches that of the noose (noose is
the rope that hangs the culprit),would be hanged. Everyone was brought to the
gallows, his height was checked with the noose but none so accurately fitted as
the one whose turn was the final one and the unfortunate one was, again, the
king! The king was hanged. The ministers were thankful that someone at last had
been found to be hanged. They shouted, “Long live the king! The king is dead”.
15. The ministers heaved a sigh of relief
after hanging the king but a new crisis was encountered – who will be the next
king?
16. Ministers
and councillors came to this decision – the next man who passed the city gate
will choose the king and there came that man, an idiot. The guards stopped him
and asked whom he chose the next king and his reply was – a melon, because it
was his standard answer to all questions. He liked melons so much.
17. A melon was soon brought to the throne
and was declared king.
Short Answer Type Questions
Q1. What
did the king order to be built? What happened when it was built?
Ans. The king ordered to build an arch across the major thoroughfare
of the city as a symbol of triumph—a kind of victory monument. The workmen built it but it was too low. When
the king rode under it, his crown struck against it and fell down.
Q2. Why
did the King order the chief of builders to be hanged?
Ans. One day the King was
riding down the thoroughfare. The arch was so low that it struck against the
crown. The crown fell off. The King was angry at this disgrace. He held the
chief of builders responsible for this and ordered him to be hanged?
Q3. What
did the chief builder say when the king ordered him to be hanged?
Ans. The chief builder said that it was not his fault that the arch
had been made low. He said it was the fault of the workmen.
Q4. What
did the workmen say in their defence when the king ordered them to be hanged?
Ans. The workmen said that
the bricks had been made of the wrong size. Thus it was the fault of the masons
and it was they who should be hanged.
Q5. How
did the masons save themselves from being hanged?
Ans. They put the blame on
the architect and thus saved themselves from being hanged.
Q6. How
did the architect plead his case before the king?
Ans. The architect said
that the king himself had made some changes in the planning of the arch. Thus
it was not his fault that the arch was low.
Q7. What
was the King's reaction when the architect blamed him for the incident?
Ans. When the architect
blamed the King for the incident he was confused and nearly lost control over
himself. However, being a just and placid King, he said that it was an
intricate matter and he need someone’s advice. He ordered to bring to him the
wisest man in the country.
Q8. What
suggestion did the wise man give to the king?
Ans. At the King's command
the wisest man was found and brought, rather carried, to the Royal Court. In
fact, he was so old that he could neither walk nor see. He said that the
culprit must be punished. He held the arch responsible for hitting the crown
violently and causing it fall. So, according to him, the arch was the real
culprit.
Q9. How
did the arch escape punishment?
Ans. As advised by the
wisest man, the arch was held responsible for hitting the crown and led to the
scaffold. Suddenly a councillor said that it would be a shameful act to hang
the arch that touched His Majesty’s head. The king thought it was true and
spared the arch.
Q10.
Describe the circumstances which led to the hanging of His Majesty?
Ans. The crowd was getting
restless as the hanging was being delayed. Sensing their mood, the king said
that someone must be hanged immediately, as the nation wanted it. A noose was
set up. It was somewhat high. Each man was measured turn by turn. There was
only one man who was tall enough to fit in the noose, and it was the King. So
His Majesty was hanged.
Q11. What
was the problem confronted by the Ministers? How did they solve it?
Ans. After hanging of His
Majesty the Ministers were confronted with the problem of finding a ruler for
their state. To solve this problem they followed their old custom. The heralds
were sent out to proclaim that the next person who passes the City Gate would
choose the ruler of their state.
Q12. How
was a melon crowned as the king of the country?
Ans. The ministers decided
that the first man to pass the city gate would choose the ruler of the state.
This man happened to be an idiot. When he was asked, he said, “A melon.” Thus a
melon was crowned as the king of the country.
Q13. What
are the principles of ‘Laissez- faire’?
Ans. ‘Laissez-faire is
French for leave alone. It also means the doctrine of avoiding government
interference in business. So these principles worked well in the melon city
“when a melon’ was made the king and that did not interfere the lives of his
subjects. They were happy till the king let them live in peace and liberty.
Q14. What
is the significance of phrase just and placid used for the king?
Ans. The phrase ‘just and
placid’ is significant because the king in the course of the story turns out to
be the opposite of this phrase which means who does justice and can’t be easily
excited but the king is quite opposite, whimsical and easily influenced. His
exaggerated sense of justice caused even his own death. He used to lose his
temper even over a small incident. He was too good to be of any use.
Q15. How
according to you, can peace and liberty be maintained in a state?
Ans. It is the duty of the
rulers to maintain peace and liberty in the state. There should be rule of the
law. Everybody should be equal before the law. The rulers should be wise and
just. There should be no exploitation of one class by the other.
Q16. Give
examples of humour and irony from the poem ‘The Tale of Melon City’.
Ans. The king takes the
bumping off his crown by the arch as a disgrace and summons the builder to be
hanged. They go on accusing one another which results in the hanging of the
king himself. An idiot chooses the next king. He names a Melon. The crowning of
a Melon with respect and ceremony sounds quite humorous and ironical. The irony
is that the people care little if they were ruled by a foolish man or a Melon.
Q17. What
message does it convey?
Ans. Vikram Seth gives a
message that how by thoughtless action people choose irresponsible government
and the whole kingdom would turn into a farce. People need to be wise and
careful in choosing their governments which in turn should be responsible and
transparent to the people.
Long Answer Type Questions
Q1. Describe
the circumstances leading to the hanging of the king.
Ans. The king found himself
in a difficult situation after hearing the architect’s argument. He said that
it was an intricate matter and he needed someone’s advice. He ordered to bring
to him the wisest man in the country. The wisest man was found and brought to
the Royal Court. He said that the arch was the real culprit. It impudently hit
the crown which fell off. So the arch must be hanged. Suddenly a councillor
said that it would be a very shameful act to hang the arch that touched His
Majesty’s head. It seemed true to the king. He was at a loss what to do.
Meanwhile, he saw the crowd was getting restless and they wanted a hanging. So
he declared that someone must be hanged. The noose was set up. It was somewhat
high. Each man was measured turn by turn. But there was only one man who was
tall enough to fit in the noose, and it was the king. His Majesty was, therefore,
hanged by Royal Decree.
Q2. How
does a melon become the ruler of the State?
Ans. After the hanging of
the King, the Ministers are confronted with the problem of choosing the ruler
of the state. They follow their old custom. They send out the heralds to
proclaim that the next to pass the City Gate will choose the king. An idiot
happens to pass the City Gate. The guards stop him and ask him to decide who
should be the king. The idiot replies, “A melon”. Actually that is his pet
answer to all questions since he likes melons. The Ministers crown a melon and
place their Melon king reverently at the throne. So the melon becomes the ruler
of the State. The people are quite happy with their Melon king because he does
not interefere in their affairs.
Q3.
Suggest a few instances in the poem which highlight humour and irony.
Ans. The poem is full of
humour and irony from the beginning to the end. There is a king who has a
triumphal arch built on the major road of his city. But the same triumphal arch
bangs his crown off. The king wants to punish the guilty but in the end gets
himself hanged. The king is dead but the ministers make proclamations in the
name of the king. All these are examples of irony. And there is humour in the
description of each character. The king, the ministers, the wisest man of the
city, the councillor and ‘melon idiot’ are all fools. In fact, it is a kingdom
of fools. Nothing could be more humorous than a melon being crowned and carried
to the throne reverently.
Q4. What impression do you gather of a state where the king
was just and placid?
Ans. It was a kingdom of fools. No one in
the state had any sense. The king wanted to hang someone because his crown had
hit against the arch and fallen down. The king wanted to consult a wise man.
The ministers brought a man to the king. He said that the real; culprit was the
arch and must be hanged. The king allows himself to be hanged because no other
man is tall enough to fit the noose. The king is dead but the ministers make
declarations in the name of the king. An idiot says that a melon should be the
ruler of the state. The ministers crown a melon and set it down on the throne.
Thus we see that it was truly a kingdom of all fools.
Snapshot (Supplementary Reader)
2. The Address
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5. Mother’s Day
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6. Birth
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