How do you think that the story of the tiger king describes as a satire
Answers
In the story, Tiger King there was a king who was known to be the tiger king due to the prediction of royal astrologer. According to the prediction, king was born in the hours of bull. Bulls and tigers are enemy so the death of king was to come through a tiger. To avoid his death tiger king vowed to kill 100 tigers.
From beginning he killed 70 tigers of his kingdom very cruelly. To hunt more tigers, he got married to the princess who belonged to the tiger prone kingdom. In this manner, he succeeded to hunt 99 tigers. But the last tiger was indeed a great deal. With his full efforts he shot the tiger. But bullet missed it's target.
At last the 100th tiger was killed by the other hunters and the tiger king was satisfied that he has full filled his target. The death of king came through a wooden tiger which he bought on 3rd birthday of his son. One spike pierced into his hand and caused infection. Soon the tiger king dead. The wooden tiger took revenge of all 100 tigers killed by the king.
Thus the story describes as a satire.
On surface level, ‘The Tiger King’ seems to be a simple story about a royal prince, his growth and exploits as a king.
The prophecies at his birth about the manner of his death make the story interesting by introducing the element of surprise and suspense.
On a deeper level, the story is a satire on the conceit of those in power.
It is usually seen that those in power have too much pride in themselves and what they do.
Two such specimens in the story are the Tiger King and the British officer.
The author employs dramatic irony and humour to show their faults and weaknesses.
The words of these characters carry an extra meaning.
They do not know what is going to happen.
The Tiger King resolves to hunt a hundred tigers to disprove the prediction of the astrologer.
In his stubbornness, he falls prey to a wooden tiger.
The high-ranking British officer is equally vain.
He is more interested in photograph with carcass than hunting itself.
The Tiger King offers to organise any other hunt except tiger-hunt.
It may be a boar-hunt, mouse- hunt or a mosquito-hunt.
He has to lose three lakh of rupees for his refusal.
The ego of the British officer is satisfied when his wife is pleased to get diamond rings sent by the Maharaja.