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The Tale of Melon City is a humorous narrative poem written by Vikram Seth. Through satire and irony, the poem comments on justice, governance, public opinion, and the principle of laissez-faire (non-interference).
The poem shows how blind adherence to tradition and public will can lead to absurd outcomes.
The Tale of Melon City of Summary
The poem describes a city ruled by a calm and “just” king. He believes strongly in one principle: the will of the people must be respected.
To celebrate his reign, he orders a triumphal arch to be built across the main road. However, when he rides under it, his crown falls off because the arch is built too low.
- The King’s Philosophy of Rule
The story begins with a king who strongly believed that his people should live in complete freedom. His motto was simple: “Let the people do what they like.” He thought this made him a just ruler and earned the respect of his subjects.
- The King’s Strange Punishment
One day, the king ordered an arch to be built to honor his reign. When it was constructed, he found faults with it. Enraged, he ordered the chief of builders to be hanged. But soon, he kept changing his decision, blaming the workmen, then the mason, then others until the situation became confusing. Finally, in his sense of justice, he declared that someone must be punished for the “faulty arch.”
- The King Sentenced to Death
When no one could decide who was guilty, the king ordered that the public should judge. Ironically, the crowd declared that the king himself should be punished for being the one who had issued the order. True to his belief in respecting the people’s will, the king accepted the verdict and was executed.
- Choosing a New Ruler
According to tradition, the new ruler was to be chosen by asking the people what they wanted. When asked, the citizens replied that they wanted a ruler who would not interfere in their lives. They wanted “a ruler who lets us live in peace and freedom.” Their choice?—“a ruler who does not bother us: a melon!”
- The Melon as King
From that day onwards, the city came to be known as “The Melon City” Everyone was happy with this unusual arrangement because, true to tradition, the people got exactly what they wanted, a ruler who never interfered in their affairs.
Character Analysis of the Poem
Let us study each character of the poem in detail.
The King
- Philosophy of Freedom: The king firmly believed that people should be free to live as they pleased. His motto was “the will of the people must be respected.”
- Weakness in Decision-Making: He kept changing his mind about who should be punished for the faulty arch. This shows his lack of firmness and inability to make clear, fair decisions.
- Respect for Tradition: When the people finally declared that he himself should be executed, he accepted it without protest. This reflects his blind devotion to principles, even at the cost of his life.
- Irony of Character: Though meant to be a strong ruler, he becomes a victim of his own rigid ideas. His rule is remembered not for wisdom but for absurdity.
The People (Citizens)
- Practical Nature: They wanted only one thing—personal freedom and peace. They were not concerned with the qualities of a ruler.
- Indifference: The people did not care whether the ruler was human or non-human, as long as their liberty was untouched.
- Self-Centered Thinking: Their decision to crown a melon showed that they valued their own comfort over logical governance.
The Builders, Workmen, and Mason
- Fearful and Obedient: Each group shifted the blame quickly when the king got angry. This shows how subjects often tried to save themselves under autocratic rule.
- Powerless Characters: They had no real voice or authority; their role highlights the king’s indecisiveness.
The Melon King (Symbolic Ruler)
- Symbol of Freedom: The melon becomes the ruler because it does not interfere in anyone’s life, fulfilling the people’s wish.
- Satirical Element: A melon as king highlights the absurdity of blindly following traditions.
- Irony: The city prospers under a non-living ruler, showing that sometimes “no rule” is better than bad rule.
Line by Line Explanation of the Poem
Let us understand the poem line by line to get a better hold on it.
“In the city of which I sing
There was a just and placid King.”
The poet introduces a city and its king, who is calm and believed to be fair.
“The King proclaimed an arch should be
Constructed, that triumphally
Would span the major thoroughfare
To edify spectators there.”
The King orders the construction of a grand arch across the main road to impress and educate people about his glory.
“The workmen went and built the thing.
They did so since he was the King.”
The arch is built by the workers simply because the king commanded it—showing obedience, not choice.
“The King rode down the thoroughfare
To edify spectators there.
Under the arch he lost his crown.
The arch was built too low.”
When the King passes under the arch, his crown falls off because the arch is too low. Instead of being honored, he feels insulted.
“A frown
Appeared upon his placid face.
The King said, ‘This is a disgrace.
The chief of builders will be hanged.’”
His calm nature changes to anger, and he declares the chief of builders guilty.
“The chief of builders was led out…
‘O King, it was the workmen’s fault’.”
The chief shifts the blame onto the workmen.
“The workmen looked surprised, and said,
‘O King, you do not realise
The bricks were made of the wrong size.’”
The workmen push the blame on the masons who made the bricks.
“‘It was the architect...’, they said,
The architect was summoned.”
The masons accuse the architect.
“Said the architect, ‘O King,
You made certain amendments to
The plans when I showed them to you.’”
Finally, the architect blames the King himself for changing the original design.
“The King heard this. The King saw red…
‘I need some counsel. Bring to me
The wisest man in this country.’”
The King becomes confused and angry but, trying to be “just,” seeks advice from the wisest man.
“So old (and therefore wise) was he…
‘The culprit must be punished. Truly,
The arch it was that banged
The crown off, and it must be hanged’.”
The wise man absurdly declares the arch guilty. The King agrees, showing blind belief in advice.
“When suddenly a Councillor said —
How can we hang so shamefully
What touched your head, Your Majesty?’”
A minister objects, saying it is disrespectful to punish the arch that touched the King’s head.
“By now the crowd,
Restless, was muttering aloud.”
The people grow impatient and want someone punished quickly.
“The King perceived their mood and trembled…
‘The nation
Wants a hanging. Hanged must be
Someone, and that immediately.’”
The King sensed public unrest and prioritized public demand over rational justice.
“Each man was measured by and by.
But only one man was so tall…
He was the King. His Majesty
Was therefore hanged by Royal Decree.”
Ironically, only the King fits the noose. So, according to tradition, the King himself is executed.
“The Ministers…
Sent out the heralds to proclaim…
‘The next to pass the City Gate
Will choose the ruler of our state.’”
As per tradition, the next person entering the city must decide the new ruler.
“A man passed by the City Gate.
An idiot. The guards cried, ‘Wait!
Who is to be the King? Decide!’
‘A melon,’ the idiot replied.”
By chance, the person is a fool who is known to answer “melon” to any question. So, he names a melon as king.
“You Are now our King,’ the Ministers said,
Crowning a melon.”
The ministers obey tradition and crown a melon as king.
“This happened years and years ago.
When now you ask the people, ‘So —
Your King appears to be a melon.
How did this happen?’”
The poet shifts to the present, explaining how the city still has a melon as its king.
“If His Majesty rejoice
In being a melon, that’s OK
With us, for who are we to say
What he should be as long as he
Leaves us in Peace and Liberty?”
The people don’t mind having a melon as ruler because they value freedom and peace more than active governance.
“The principles of laissez faire
Seem to be well-established there.”
The poet concludes with satire: the city practices laissez-faire (a system of no interference), which suits them perfectly.
Themes of the Poem
Below are the main themes of the poem:
- Justice and Absurdity
The King tries to be “just” by punishing someone for the faulty arch. But justice becomes meaningless as blame keeps shifting, from builders to masons to the architect, and finally to the King himself. The poem satirizes how justice can become absurd when applied blindly.
- The Will of the People
The King always believed that “the will of the people should prevail.” Even at his own death, he respects this principle, proving his strange sense of fairness. Later, when people are asked to choose a ruler, they accept even a melon because they only care about personal freedom.
- Satire on Governance
The poem mocks rulers who lack firmness and blindly follow traditions. Ministers and officials are shown as spineless, concerned only with keeping order and avoiding public anger. By crowning a melon, the city highlights the futility of formal governance.
- Freedom and Laissez-Faire
The citizens are happy under a melon’s rule because it does not interfere in their lives. Their motto is simple: “As long as we have peace and liberty, we don’t care who rules us.” This reflects the principle of laissez-faire (non-interference in people’s lives).
- Irony and Tradition
It is ironic that the King, who wants justice, becomes the victim of his own laws. Tradition is followed blindly whether it is hanging someone, letting the crowd decide, or choosing a ruler at the city gate. The poem suggests how traditions, if not questioned, can lead to absurd outcomes.
- Human Nature and Indifference
The people are shown as indifferent and self-centered. They don’t care whether their ruler is a king or a fruit, as long as their own liberty is preserved. This reflects how common people often prioritize personal peace over good governance.
Conclusion
So dear students, now that you’ve explored the poem through these easy and detailed notes, you can feel super confident about any exam or test question that comes your way. Instead of scratching your head at confusing lines or rushing through summaries at the last minute, you now have everything explained in the simplest way possible.
Whether it’s the tale of melon city question answer on themes, explaining the king’s character, or just retelling the story, you’ll find yourself scoring better and stressing less. So hold on to these notes, revise smartly, and go ace your exams, you’ve got this, and these notes have your back!
FAQs
1. What is the central idea of the poem “The Tale of Melon City”?
Ans. The poem highlights the irony of governance and the importance of personal freedom. It shows how the people of the city valued liberty over logic, even accepting a melon as their ruler because it never interfered in their lives.
2. Why was the King executed in the story?
Ans. The King was executed because the crowd demanded a hanging, and according to tradition, the tallest person who fit the noose was to be punished. Ironically, the King himself was the only one tall enough, so he was hanged by his own decree.
3. What does the melon symbolize in the poem?
Ans. The melon symbolizes freedom, peace, and a ruler who does not interfere in people’s lives. It also adds humor and satire to the poem, showing the absurd outcome of blindly following traditions.
4. How does the poem reflect satire?
Ans. The poem satirizes governance, justice, and human indifference. The King’s obsession with fairness leads to absurd results, ministers blindly follow tradition, and people remain unconcerned as long as they enjoy peace and liberty.
5. What lesson do we learn from “The Tale of Melon City”?
Ans. The poem teaches that people value personal freedom above all else, even more than having a strong ruler. It also warns against blind adherence to tradition and highlights the absurdities in systems of governance when logic and reason are ignored.
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