“The Tale of Melon City” by Vikram Seth is a funny poem that tells us about a city ruled by a melon. Yes, you read that right – a melon becomes the king! This story teaches us important lessons about government, justice, and how silly people in power can be. Let’s explore this amazing poem together and understand every part of it.
Table of Contents
What Happens in the Story? A Simple Summary
The King Builds an Arch
The story starts with a king who wants to build an arch. The poem begins with these famous lines:
“In the city of which I sing
There was a just and placid King.
The King proclaimed an arch should be
Constructed, that triumphally
Would span the major thoroughfare
To edify spectators there.”
This king is described as “just and placid” meaning he is fair and calm. He wants to build an arch over the main road to make people happy and teach them good things. The word “edify” means to educate or improve people morally.
The workmen follow the king’s orders without question:
“The workmen went and built the thing.
They did so since he was the King.”
The Problem with the Arch
When the arch is built, something goes wrong. The poem describes what happens next:
“The King rode down the thoroughfare
To edify spectators there.
Under the arch he lost his crown.
The arch was built too low. A frown
Appeared upon his placid face.
The King said, ‘This is a disgrace.
The chief of builders will be hanged.’
The rope and gallows were arranged.”
This makes the king very angry because he feels embarrassed in front of his people. The king thinks this is a big disgrace, so he gets very upset and decides someone must be punished for this mistake.
Everyone Gets Blamed
The king gets very angry and orders the chief of the builders to be hanged. But then something interesting happens – everyone starts blaming someone else! The poem shows this blame game:
“The chief of builders was led out.
He passed the King. He gave a shout,
‘O King, it was the workmen’s fault’
‘Oh!’ said the King, and called a halt
To the proceedings. Being just
(And placider now) he said, ‘I must
Have all the workmen hanged instead.'”
Then the workmen defend themselves:
“The workmen looked surprised, and said,
‘O King, you do not realise
The bricks were made of the wrong size.'”
The blame continues:
“‘Summon the masons!’ said the King.
The masons stood there quivering.
‘It was the architect…’, they said,”
Everyone keeps pointing fingers at someone else. No one wants to take responsibility for the mistake.
The Wise Man’s Advice
When things get really confusing, the king calls for help:
“The King heard this. The King saw red.
In fact he nearly lost his head;
But being a just and placid King
He said, ‘This is a tricky thing.
I need some counsel. Bring to me
The wisest man in this country.'”
An old wise man is brought to court:
“The wisest man was found and brought,
Nay, carried, to the Royal Court.
He could not walk and could not see,
So old (and therefore wise) was he —
But in a quavering voice he said,
‘The culprit must be punished.
Truly, the arch it was that banged
The crown off, and it must be hanged’.”
The Architect’s Defense
The architect is very smart. When his turn comes to be hanged, he gives a clever defense:
“The architect was summoned. ‘Well,
architect,’ said His Majesty.
‘I do ordain that you shall be
Hanged.’ Said the architect, ‘O King,
You have forgotten one small thing.
You made certain amendments to
The plans when I showed them to you.'”
This puts the king in a very difficult position because now he is responsible for the problem. The architect cleverly points out that the king himself made changes to the original design.
The King Gets Punished
In a funny twist, the blame comes back to the king himself. The crowd becomes restless:
“‘True,’ mused the King. By now the crowd,
Restless, was muttering aloud.
The King perceived their mood and trembled
And said to all who were assembled —
‘Let us postpone consideration
Of finer points like guilt. The nation
Wants a hanging. Hanged must be
Someone, and that immediately.'”
Then comes the most ironic part:
“The noose was set up somewhat high.
Each man was measured by and by.
But only one man was so tall
He fitted. One man. That was all.
He was the King. His Majesty
Was therefore hanged by Royal Decree”
This is very ironic because the king was trying to punish others but ended up punishing himself!
Choosing a New King
After the king dies, the ministers need to choose a new ruler:
“‘Thank Goodness we found someone,’ said
The Ministers, ‘for if instead
We had not, the unruly town
Might well have turned against the Crown.’
‘Long live the King!’ the Ministers said.
‘Long live the King! The King is dead.'”
They decide on a strange method:
“They pondered the dilemma; then,
Being practical-minded men,
Sent out the heralds to proclaim
(In His [former] Majesty’s name):
‘The next to pass the City Gate
Will choose the ruler of our state,
As is our custom. This will be
Enforced with due ceremony.'”
The Melon Becomes King
The next person who comes is described as “an idiot.” The poem shows us what happens:
“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.
This was his standard answer to
All questions. (He liked melons.) ‘You
Are now our King,’ the Ministers said,
Crowning a melon. Then they led
(Carried) the Melon to the throne
And reverently set it down.”
From that day onwards, the city becomes known as “Melon City” because it is ruled by a melon.
What Makes This Poem Special?
It’s Really Funny
Vikram Seth uses humor to teach us serious lessons. The idea of a melon being a king is so silly that it makes us laugh. But while we’re laughing, we’re also learning about real problems in government.
It Shows How Governments Can Be Silly
The poem shows us many ways that people in power can make bad decisions like blaming others instead of fixing problems, punishing innocent people, making important decisions randomly, and not thinking carefully about consequences.
The Language is Simple but Smart
Seth writes in a way that’s easy to understand, but the meaning is deep. He uses simple words to talk about complicated ideas about justice and government.
Understanding the Characters
The King
The king is described as “just and placid” but he doesn’t actually show these qualities. He is not an intelligent person and doesn’t have good decision-making ability. Because of his foolishness, he loses his life.
The king starts out wanting to do good things for his people, but his pride and anger make him make bad choices.
The Chief of Builders, Workmen, Masons, and Architect
These characters represent different levels of workers and government officials. They all try to save themselves by blaming others, which shows how people avoid taking responsibility.
The Architect
The architect is described as a smart person who is able to frustrate the king. When it’s his turn to be hanged, he points out something that puts the king in a difficult situation.
The Idiot
This man has low intelligence and doesn’t think rationally. When asked to choose the king, he says “a melon” because he was very fond of melons. His random answer ends up deciding the fate of the entire kingdom.
The Ministers
The ministers represent government officials who follow rules blindly without thinking about whether they make sense.
Important Themes in the Poem
Satire on Government
Vikram Seth uses this poem to mock government systems and how people can be too proud of old customs and traditions. He shows how governments can become silly and unfair.
Blame and Responsibility
The poem shows how people often refuse to take responsibility for their actions. Instead of solving problems, they prefer to blame others.
Justice and Fairness
The king claims to believe in justice, but his version of justice is not fair at all. He wants to punish someone even if they’re not really guilty.
Power and Leadership
The poem makes fun of how leaders can be chosen randomly rather than based on their abilities or wisdom.
People’s Acceptance
The poem shows how people can accept even the most ridiculous situations. When asked about their melon king, the people say they don’t care who rules them as long as they have “Peace and Liberty.”
Literary Techniques Used by Vikram Seth
Irony
The biggest irony is that the “just and placid” king is neither just nor placid. Another irony is that the people care little whether they are ruled by a foolish man or a melon.
Humor
The poem is full of funny situations like the king losing his crown, people blaming each other, and finally crowning a melon with great ceremony.
Repetition
Seth repeats certain words and phrases throughout the poem for emphasis, such as “just and placid” and references to the king’s character.
Satire
The entire poem is a satire that uses humor to criticize political systems and human behavior.
Understanding Difficult Words
Just – fair and honest
Placid – calm and peaceful
Proclaimed – announced officially
Triumphally – in a way that celebrates victory
Thoroughfare – main road
Edify – to teach or improve someone
Spectators – people who watch
Disgrace – shame or embarrassment
Customary – according to usual practices
Laissez-faire – policy of not interfering
Important Questions and Answers
Why is the poem called “The Tale of Melon City”?
The poem gets its title because the city ends up being ruled by a melon. This silly name reflects the absurd nature of the story and makes us think about how ridiculous some political situations can be.
What lesson does the poem teach us?
The poem teaches us that people need to be wise and careful in choosing their governments, which should be responsible and transparent to the people. It also shows how thoughtless actions can lead to absurd consequences.
How does the king’s character change in the poem?
The king starts as someone described as “just and placid,” but we quickly see that he is actually proud, angry, and makes poor decisions. His true character is revealed through his actions.
What is the significance of the melon as a king?
The melon represents the ultimate absurdity in leadership. Since a melon cannot make decisions or govern, it shows how some governments can be completely ineffective.
Students interested in exploring more works that use humor to critique society might enjoy reading about R.K. Narayan’s “Engine Trouble”, another story that uses comedy to highlight social issues.
Modern Relevance
Even though this poem was written decades ago, its themes are still relevant today. We can see examples of:
- Politicians blaming each other instead of solving problems
- Leaders making decisions based on pride rather than wisdom
- People accepting poor leadership because they don’t want to get involved
- Government systems that don’t work effectively
The poem encourages us to think critically about leadership and to be active citizens who care about good governance.
The Concept of Laissez-Faire
At the end of the poem, Seth mentions “the principles of laissez-faire.” The poem ends with these important lines:
“This happened years and years ago.
When now you ask the people, ‘So —
Your King appears to be a melon.
How did this happen?’, they say, ‘Well,
on Account of customary choice.
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 principles of laissez faire
Seem to be well-established there.”
This means a policy of not interfering or letting things happen naturally. The people of Melon City follow this principle – they don’t care who rules them as long as they are left in peace.
This shows how sometimes people become too passive about politics and government, accepting even absurd situations rather than working for better leadership.
For students studying political satire in literature, Mahesh Dattani’s works provide another excellent example of how Indian writers use drama and humor to examine social and political issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this story real or imaginary?
A: This is an imaginary story created by Vikram Seth to teach lessons about government and society through humor.
Q: Why do the people accept a melon as their king?
A: The people don’t really care who rules them as long as they can live peacefully. This shows how some citizens become passive about politics.
Q: What is the main message of the poem?
A: The poem teaches us to be careful about choosing leaders and to think critically about government systems.
Q: How does the poem use humor to teach serious lessons?
A: By making us laugh at absurd situations, the poem makes us think more deeply about real problems in politics and society.
Q: What does the arch symbolize in the poem?
A: The arch represents government projects that look good but may have problems. It also symbolizes how small mistakes can lead to big consequences.
Conclusion: Why This Poem Still Matters Today
“The Tale of Melon City” remains an important poem because it teaches us timeless lessons about government, leadership, and society. Through its funny story of a melon becoming a king, Vikram Seth shows us how silly and unfair political systems can become when people don’t think carefully about their choices.
The poem reminds us that good governance requires wise leaders who take responsibility for their actions and citizens who actively participate in choosing and evaluating their rulers. Even though the story is absurd and funny, its message about the importance of good leadership and responsible citizenship is very serious and relevant to our world today.
