Chapter 8 - The Tale of Melon City

This article will help you to learn about the summary, characters and themes in the short story “Tale Of Melon City Class 11”, written by Vikram Seth.

Synopsis

This poem by Vikram Seth is a humorous satire on people in power. The poet has humorously presented the idea that it does not matter to people who their ruler, king, or head of state is as long as he allows them to live in peacefully.

Once upon a time, there was a city named, The Melon City. There lived a placid and just king. He proclaimed an arch to be constructed across the thoroughfare for the edification of people. The arch was built too low and the king’s crown was knocked down when he passed from below it. His made the king very angry and he decided to punish the chief builder by hanging him. The gallows were then set-up.

As the builder was brought for hanging, he fell on his knees pleading for mercy. He said it was the workmen’s fault that the arch had been built low. The king pardoned the builder and ordered the workmen to be hanged. When the workmen were to be hanged, they pleaded to the king it was not their fault. They had been supplied the wrong size bricks. So, the masons were called and they passed the buck onto the architect.

Thus everyone passed the blame to someone else. In this manner, the architect was called to be hanged. With folded hands, he reminded the king that the king himself had made amendments in the plan he had shown him.

Now the king became very confused. He said he needed some counsel on this very tricky matter as to who must be hanged. So he ordered the wisest man of his kingdom to be brought to him. In his kingdom, the one who was considered to be the wisest the oldest in age. So a man who was on death bed was brought. He advised the king that it was the arch that was the culprit and it must be hanged. So huge gallows were set up for the hanging of the arch. Now, the counsellor said the arch could not be hanged as it had become pure by touching the head of the king.

By this time the crowd had become impatient and restless for a hanging. Fearing their subversion the king ordered immediate hanging of anyone to pacify the crowd. So all who were present were tried to fit in the high set noose. Only the king fitted perfectly. And according to his order, he was hanged.

Now, this city had a bizarre custom of electing the new king. Anyone passing through the street the next day would elect the king. So when the guards, next morning asked the passer-by who must the king be of the city, he replied, “Melon”. This passer-by was an idiot whose staple answer to all the questions put to him was “Melon”.

So a melon was crowned as the king. Thenceforth the city came to be known as ‘Melon City’. This is the story the city people tell those who ask them the reason behind the name of their city.

Character List

The king in this poem is of a unique personality. What drives him is his quirky nature rather than logic and reasoning. He is introduced ironically as ‘placid’ and ‘just’. The king has his own limitations and can’t provide justice. He does not acquire a firm mind and lacks a sense of judgment. Rather he can easily be convinced and influenced. He asks to construct a monument of an arch as his victory and glory. Unfortunately, the arch is low that it hits his crown and he is unable to bear this. Therefore, the king asks to hang all those who made this fault.

By this, his existence becomes meaningless to his subjects. When by his own decree he is hanged, the high sigh of relief surrounds the ministers. The king falls in his own trap, and he being weak and suppresses himself under pressure.

Themes

The Tale of Melon City is well-known for being a humorous and child-like poem in the uniquely absurd nature of its story. The poem follows the story of its “just and placid king” who tries to be a model for an extremely literal form of justice and largely succeeds, in a most unusual way. As an analysis into topics such as governance, laissez-faire, and justice, The Tale of Melon City works very nicely as a piece that is both amusing, and thought-provoking in its own way.

For The Tale of Melon City Class, 11 Extra Questions check The Tale of Melon City NCERT Solutions.