both Mrs packletide and loona bimberton are vain, arrogant and full of self importance. these are negative aspects of their personalities. the writer highlights them to make fun of them. what do you think is the real motive of the writer in depicting these negative qualities
Answers
The story is not only meant to evoke subtle humor in the minds of readers, it has a subtle message for them too. The author has highlighted the vice of vanity in the chapter. The vice of vanity, is bound to meet frustration and dejection. Life is a glorious gift meant to be pursued for higher pursuits such as self-improvement, self-actualization, and serving the suffering humankind. Where is the time for vain materialistic pursuits in such a competitive world? But unfortunately a major portion of human beings indulge in materialistic pursuits. They waste their time, money, energies and other resources almost all their life later on to realize the futility of it. The best example that shows the misery of vain people is the character of Mrs Packletide in the story Mrs Packletide's tiger by Saki. We see how her vain ambition of outshining Loona Bimberton ends up in her shame, embarrassment, and financial loss. She is left with nothing but regret and remorse. The author has masterfully brought home the point that vain people like her don't get anything useful in their lives; their vain endeavours bear no sweet fruit. On the contrary they have to bear loss on all fronts. Miss Mebbin's act of extorting a huge sum of money at the end of the story must have given Mrs Packletide a lot of pain. It must have deprived her of all the joy and peace she must be feeling after the tiger hunt. What an irony of circumstances!