The Tiger King- An Overview
Theme:
The Tiger King is essentially a satire on the ride, conceit and stubbornness o
those in power and truly highlights the maxim, 'Many a slip between the cup and
thZlFftfi8ÄöEvolves around the follies and mistakes of an autocratic,
egoistic and willful ruler, who is ultimatel res onsi eath Åespite
having made immense efforts his entire life to prevent his death at the hands of a
tiger.
The story highlights how selfishness and self-absorption and obsession lead to
failure and destruction. This story also reflects on how mankind selfishly
dominates nature and other species, paying little attention to the destruction
they cause to them. Thus the message that the author conveys to the readers is
that man is not infallible and more often than not, is the cause of his own
downfall, besides causing harm to others.
Significance of the Title: Due to the prophecy made by the astrologers on the
birth of the Maharaja of the Pratibandapuram, which foretold that the king would
die at the hands of the 100 thtiger, the king's entire-life revolved around killing
tigers to prove this prophecy wrong_as_well as to and
Thus, this title is an appropriate one for the story, as tigers play a pivotal role in
the life of the king, right from his birth to his death at the hands of a wooden
tiger.
Highlights:
The story is about the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram, who was better
known as the Tiger King. The author then expresses »is determination to
tell the reeders the saga ofth%Tiger King.
The author informs the readers that the Tiger King is dead and the
proceeds to tell the tale.
At the time of the king's birth, the astrologers made the prediction that
the child
however, one day will have to meet his death. (Here the author satirizes
the self-assumed importance of the astrologers by this inane remark)
At this point, the ten-day old baby speaks and points out that the
statement made is common
manner of the death. The astrologers then reveal that the king was
déSfiféTfödFåi¯Cfe hands of a tiær. In response the infant is said to
given a Agep.iÜ3GiCGÜtigers,bewar?!"
As time passed by, the king grew
•ustlike all the other crown princes of other Indian
states. At this point everyone remembered the prediction and soon this
came to the Maharaja's ears and he set out to kill a tiger.
He then summoned for the State astrologer to show him the dead beast.
At that point the astrologer reveal that the King would meet his end at the
hands of the 100 thtiger. Thereafter, the king set out to single mindedly kill
100 tigers, to prove the prediction wrong and also to prove that he was
indomitable and infallible.
There was a state ban placed in Pratibandapuram op ygervhunting by
anyone except the tiger king. He proceeded with great determination to
, kill one tiger after another and though he faced several dangers and
challenges, he always won.
• So great was his obsession for killing the tigers that he did not pay any
attention to anyone or anything else. There were several hurdles that he
faced on the way. First, he incurred the wrath of a high-ranking British
officer by
danger of himself. He managed to save the situation b
sending expensive gifts for the officer's wi e, but at a huge cost —a bill of
three la h rupees!
• ne next hurdle came his way when after killing 70 tigers, the tigers
became extinct in his state. Still obsessed with his mission of killing 100
the tiger king directed his Dewan to find out the tiger population of
various native states as also whether there is a suitable bride from
the
royal family of the states having a large tiger population.
• Thus the tiger king married his wife, primarily to accomplish his goal
of
killing 100 tigers and soon he managed to kill 99Btigevs.
• After this, though, came thé most challenging situation as it was
impossible to locate tigers anywhere. At this stage of the story, the author
vividly brings out the willful, autocratic and immensely selfish side of the
tiger king's character. His actions of arbitrarily imposing tax on,the
villa ers and firin his officers, clearl shows that he cares for no one but
himself and his goal.
the Dewan. In
desperation then, the Dewan, brin s a starveUAQ4 weakntjgersfrpmthe
People's Park in Ma ras and with the help of his it into
his car and drives to the forest where the king
The next day, the king sees the oldAger and aims at him. When the tiger
falls to the ground, the king is pygnpyed as he feels he has finally
accomplished his goal of killing 100 tigers, prophecy
"Ong. He then leaves the forest.
Meanwhile, when the hunters look a closer look at the tiger, they realized
that it was not dead and had onlyfainted with the shock of the bullet
whizzing past. They decided not to tell the they could
lose their jobs, so they shot it. The dea tiger was then taken in procession
through the town and then buried.
• A few days later, on his son's 3rdbirthday, the king wanted to buy a special
Tt for him. He finall bou hta wooden ti er from ato shop.
• Later in the day, when the king and his son were playing wit the toy tiger,
(the toy had been carved by an unskilled carpenter)
of wood standing up all over it, one of these pierced the king's right hand.
• The next day, infection flared up in the Maharaja's hand and soon spread
all over his arm. Three surgeons were brought in from Madras to operate
on him. After the operation they came out of the theatre, they declared
that the operation was successful but the Maharaja was dead. (example of
irony and satire)
• Thus one could say that the prophecy finally did come true that the Tiger
King died at the hand of the 100thtiger, though ironically it was a mere
wooden to
Theme:
The Tiger King is essentially a satire on the ride, conceit and stubbornness o
those in power and truly highlights the maxim, 'Many a slip between the cup and
thZlFftfi8ÄöEvolves around the follies and mistakes of an autocratic,
egoistic and willful ruler, who is ultimatel res onsi eath Åespite
having made immense efforts his entire life to prevent his death at the hands of a
tiger.
The story highlights how selfishness and self-absorption and obsession lead to
failure and destruction. This story also reflects on how mankind selfishly
dominates nature and other species, paying little attention to the destruction
they cause to them. Thus the message that the author conveys to the readers is
that man is not infallible and more often than not, is the cause of his own
downfall, besides causing harm to others.
Significance of the Title: Due to the prophecy made by the astrologers on the
birth of the Maharaja of the Pratibandapuram, which foretold that the king would
die at the hands of the 100 thtiger, the king's entire-life revolved around killing
tigers to prove this prophecy wrong_as_well as to and
Thus, this title is an appropriate one for the story, as tigers play a pivotal role in
the life of the king, right from his birth to his death at the hands of a wooden
tiger.
Highlights:
The story is about the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram, who was better
known as the Tiger King. The author then expresses »is determination to
tell the reeders the saga ofth%Tiger King.
The author informs the readers that the Tiger King is dead and the
proceeds to tell the tale.
At the time of the king's birth, the astrologers made the prediction that
the child
however, one day will have to meet his death. (Here the author satirizes
the self-assumed importance of the astrologers by this inane remark)
At this point, the ten-day old baby speaks and points out that the
statement made is common
manner of the death. The astrologers then reveal that the king was
déSfiféTfödFåi¯Cfe hands of a tiær. In response the infant is said to
given a Agep.iÜ3GiCGÜtigers,bewar?!"
As time passed by, the king grew
•ustlike all the other crown princes of other Indian
states. At this point everyone remembered the prediction and soon this
came to the Maharaja's ears and he set out to kill a tiger.
He then summoned for the State astrologer to show him the dead beast.
At that point the astrologer reveal that the King would meet his end at the
hands of the 100 thtiger. Thereafter, the king set out to single mindedly kill
100 tigers, to prove the prediction wrong and also to prove that he was
indomitable and infallible.
There was a state ban placed in Pratibandapuram op ygervhunting by
anyone except the tiger king. He proceeded with great determination to
, kill one tiger after another and though he faced several dangers and
challenges, he always won.
• So great was his obsession for killing the tigers that he did not pay any
attention to anyone or anything else. There were several hurdles that he
faced on the way. First, he incurred the wrath of a high-ranking British
officer by
danger of himself. He managed to save the situation b
sending expensive gifts for the officer's wi e, but at a huge cost —a bill of
three la h rupees!
• ne next hurdle came his way when after killing 70 tigers, the tigers
became extinct in his state. Still obsessed with his mission of killing 100
the tiger king directed his Dewan to find out the tiger population of
various native states as also whether there is a suitable bride from
the
royal family of the states having a large tiger population.
• Thus the tiger king married his wife, primarily to accomplish his goal
of
killing 100 tigers and soon he managed to kill 99Btigevs.
• After this, though, came thé most challenging situation as it was
impossible to locate tigers anywhere. At this stage of the story, the author
vividly brings out the willful, autocratic and immensely selfish side of the
tiger king's character. His actions of arbitrarily imposing tax on,the
villa ers and firin his officers, clearl shows that he cares for no one but
himself and his goal.
the Dewan. In
desperation then, the Dewan, brin s a starveUAQ4 weakntjgersfrpmthe
People's Park in Ma ras and with the help of his it into
his car and drives to the forest where the king
The next day, the king sees the oldAger and aims at him. When the tiger
falls to the ground, the king is pygnpyed as he feels he has finally
accomplished his goal of killing 100 tigers, prophecy
"Ong. He then leaves the forest.
Meanwhile, when the hunters look a closer look at the tiger, they realized
that it was not dead and had onlyfainted with the shock of the bullet
whizzing past. They decided not to tell the they could
lose their jobs, so they shot it. The dea tiger was then taken in procession
through the town and then buried.
• A few days later, on his son's 3rdbirthday, the king wanted to buy a special
Tt for him. He finall bou hta wooden ti er from ato shop.
• Later in the day, when the king and his son were playing wit the toy tiger,
(the toy had been carved by an unskilled carpenter)
of wood standing up all over it, one of these pierced the king's right hand.
• The next day, infection flared up in the Maharaja's hand and soon spread
all over his arm. Three surgeons were brought in from Madras to operate
on him. After the operation they came out of the theatre, they declared
that the operation was successful but the Maharaja was dead. (example of
irony and satire)
• Thus one could say that the prophecy finally did come true that the Tiger
King died at the hand of the 100thtiger, though ironically it was a mere
wooden to
