CLASS XI-(SNAPSHOT) "THE TALE OF MELON CITY" -VIKRAM SETH
"THE TALE OF MELON CITY" -VIKRAM SETH
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Vikram Seth | |
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| Born | 20 June 1952 Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Occupation |
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| Alma mater | Corpus Christi College, Oxford Stanford University |
| Period | 1980–present |
| Genre | Novels, poetry, libretto, travel writing, children's literature, biography/memoir |
| Notable works | A Suitable Boy The Golden Gate An Equal Music |
| Notable awards | Padma Shri, Sahitya Academy, Stegner Fellowship, Guggenheim Fellowship, Commonwealth Writers' Prize |
| Website | |
| www | |
Vikram Seth (born 20 June 1952) is an Indian novelist and poet. He has written several novels and poetry books. He has won several awards such as Padma Shri, Sahitya Academy Award, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, WH Smith Literary Award and Crossword Book Award. Seth's collections of poetry such as Mappings and Beastly Tales are notable contributions to the Indian English language poetry canon.
About the Poem -The Tale of Melon City’ is a humorous poem from Vikram Seth’s first poetry collection, ‘Mappings’. Vikram Seth is a post-modern poet who has explored multiple themes in his writings, ranging from the diaspora to humour. ‘The Tale of The Melon City’ is a poem that is symbolic of the folly of ignorance.
Justification to the title of the poem-
The title ‘The Tale of The Melon City’ tells us both about the time and the plot of the poem. The poem is based on the kingdom of the fair and a cool-headed king of ancient times. The king wanted an arch to be built in the city to ‘Edify’ for the people of his kingdom. His idea of improving the morality of the people is based on old and traditional beliefs, which did not have any positive outcomes. In the same manner, his ministers are of archaic belief too. Ministers chose the traditional way of choosing the next king instead of taking a rational and practical decision. They let the idiot, who passed the arch, become the next king and happily crowned the ‘Melon’ on his suggestion. That is how the city got its name ‘Melon City’.
The theme of the poem-
‘The Tale of Melon City’ sums up human nature in a humorous manner. As mentioned in the above sections, the king sacrificed his own life to keep the people of his kingdom happy. To fill his position, the melon was announced as the new king. No one seems to question both the decisions, and they all carried on living their life normally as if nothing had happened at all. Seth has indicated towards the selfishness, egocentric, ignorant and mob mentality of the people. People don’t care about who rules them, how they rule them as long as it doesn’t interfere with their freedom and peace.
Seth has criticised the dark side of human nature. People living in Melon City do not have regard for human life. People cannot hold themselves responsible for their actions. Instead of accepting flaws and finding solutions, society chooses an easy way that is putting the blame on others. Here in ‘The Tale of Melon City’, accusers passed the blame from one person to another. The king, without thinking, sentenced the chief of builders to be hanged.
Chief of builders passed the blame to the workmen, workmen to mason, and so on. The people of the kingdom were more excited to see the execution. The noose was not hung to punish the culprit, it was hung to decide a culprit. Here the high noose reflects the king himself and his death, the death of autocracy. This is suggested in the verses below
“Let us postponed consideration
Of finer points like guilt. The nation
Wants a hanging. Hanged must be
Someone, and that immediately.
The noose was set up somewhat high.
Each man was measured by and by.”
Other important themes of The Tale of The Melon City are ‘Anger’ and ‘loyalty’.
The king, who is called ‘Just’ and ‘Placid’, loses his calm over the design of the arch. It is ironic. His anger and irrational decision of hanging the culprits led to a series of incidents, which in the end, ended with his own life. If the king had acted calmly and asked to make improvements, the situation could have been avoided.
There is an absence of loyalty in the ministers who are responsible for serving the kingdom. They did not guide nor stop the king from taking an irrational step. They accepted the idiot’s decision of crowning a melon without giving it a second thought, which shows they never cared for the king or people of the kingdom.
Poem’s Tone -
The Tale of The Melon City has an ironic tone. Since the beginning of the poem, many incidents occur that highlight the irony of the situation. It is humorously presented by Seth.
“In the city of which I sing
There was a ‘just’ and ‘placid’ King.”
The king is described as someone who is fair and calm-minded, which is not true. The king lacks emotional as well as social intelligence. He makes irrational decisions that lead to his downfall, something that he does not realise.
The king has positive intentions of improving the morality of his kingdom “To Edify spectators there”, which he, unfortunately, failed to achieve. The low arch implies the low morals of the people. The king’s crown fell because it crashed with the low arch and was completely taken away from him because of his ignorance and base mentality. The irony of the poem peaks with the verses
“Thank Goodness we found someone, said
The ministers, for if instead
We had not, the unruly town
Might well have turned against the crown”.
Ministers here show their concern about the public’s reaction and that they will turn against the king. It makes readers laugh because they actually turned against the king. They let their king die for the sake of their entertainment. Ministers of the kingdom are practical enough to understand the kingdom needs ‘ king,’ but at the same time, they crowned the ‘Melon’ as the king. Another instance that adds irony and comic effect is “Long Live the King, The king is dead”.
The Tale of Melon City -Summary
The poem begins with a description about the King who ordered an arch to be built. When he rode down that arch, it hit his head and his crown fell down. It was because it was built too low. The King thought it was dishonorable and thus commanded the chief of builders to be hanged. The chief of builders put the blame on the workmen who in turn, blamed the bricks. The King orders for the execution of the mason who put the blame on the architect. The architect is brought to the Royal Court and indirectly blames the King for the wrongly constructed arch. The placid King now grows angry and demands for the wisest man in the country to be brought to the Royal Court. They brought the wisest man, who was so old that he could neither see nor walk. According to him, the arch must be hanged. When the arch is supposed to be executed, one of the ministers argue that it would be a shame to punish something that had touched their mighty King’s head. Everyone, along with the King, agreed. The crowd grew restless and the King promised them a hanging. Therefore, a noose was set-up and the one to fit it would be hanged. All were measured one by one but the only one to fit was the King. The ministers heaved a sigh of relief upon finding someone to execute. Thus, as a result of the customary choice, the next to pass the City gate would choose the new King and the next to pass it was an idiot who wanted a melon to be their King. The melon was given the throne with due ceremony and the town lived happily ever after without any interruption or interference.
The Tale of Melon City- Explanation
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.
Word Meaning
Just– based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair
Placid– calm
Proclaimed- announce officially or publicly.
Arch- a curved symmetrical structure spanning an opening and typically supporting the weight of a bridge, roof, or wall above it.
Triumphally- Celebrating or commemorating a victory
Span- Celebrating or commemorating a victory
Thoroughfare– a main road in a town
Edify- instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually
Spectators– onlookers
Explanation: The city which the poet is talking about was ruled by a ‘just and placid’ King. He is known to be fair and calm in his proceedings. One day, he ordered for an arch to be built on the main road of the town. He felt that it would be a good sight to look at that would motivate the onlookers.
The workmen went and built the thing.
They did so since he was the King.
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.
Word Meaning
Frown- a facial expression indicating disapproval, displeasure, or concentration, characterized by a furrowing of one’s brows.
Gallows- a structure, typically of two uprights and a crosspiece, for the hanging of criminals
Explanation: Since it was the King who ordered for it to be built, the workmen followed his orders and constructed the arch. To mark its inauguration and indulge the onlookers, the King went to the thoroughfare. There, the arch hit his head and his crown fell down. It happened because the arch was formed too low. His calm expressions were instantly changed, indicating extreme displeasure. He considered it a moment of dishonour and ordered for the chief of builders to be executed by hanging. To fulfill King’s orders, ropes and gallows were put in order.
Stanza 3
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.’
The workmen looked surprised, and said,
‘O King, you do not realise
The bricks were made of the wrong size.’
Word Meaning
Halt- bring or come to an abrupt stop
Explanation: The chief of builders was found and brought to be executed. He was being taken to the King. On seeing the King, the chief of builders immediately shouted and exclaimed that it was the workmen who were at fault. The King immediately called it off and declared that the workmen must be hanged. This hit the workmen with surprise. They pointed out that it was not their fault but the bricks were not of the right size.
Stanza 4
‘Summon the masons!’ said the King.
The masons stood there quivering.
‘It was the architect…’, they said,
The architect was summoned.
Word Meaning
Summon– order someone to be present
Masons- a person skilled in cutting, dressing, and laying stone in buildings
Quivering- trembling or shaking with a slight rapid motion
Architect- a person who designs buildings and in many cases also supervises their construction
Explanation: On hearing that it was the bricks that were of the wrong signs, the King called for the masons. The masons were trembling in front of the King. They put the blame on the architect and thus, the architect was called for.
Stanza 5
Explanation: The King tells the architect that he considers him the one at fault and he must be executed. Instantly, the architect mentions that it was the King who made minute changes to the architect’s initial plan. This indirectly indicated that it was the King who was responsible for the wrongly built arch. The King grew angry but since he was ‘just and placid’, he thought it would be best to consult someone in such a confusing situation. Thus, he ordered them to get the wisest person alive.
Stanza 6
Explanation: They found the wisest man but he had to be carried to the Royal court for he was so old that he could neither walk nor see properly. With his age, came his wisdom. He finally spoke in his extremely shaky voice that the one at fault must be executed and it is the arch that striked off the King’s crown. Thus, the arch must be hanged.
Stanza 7
Explanation of the Poem: After listening to the wise man’s opinion, the arch was being taken for public execution when suddenly one of the ministers of the Royal Court raised an objection. According to him, it would be disgraceful to hang something that touched the head of their mighty King. The King also found it appropriate. By this time, the crowd became unsettled. They wanted execution of the one at fault. The King, being ‘just and placid’, recognised the temper of his people and declared that they must postpone something as crucial as determining the guilty. He further added, that if the nation wants a hanging, the guilty, once decided, would be hanged without further delay.
Stanza 8
Explanation: To ascertain the one to be executed, they set up a noose and the one to fit in it would be hanged. Each man was called and measured one by one. The noose was set up at quite a high point and the only man tall enough to fit in the noose was the one and only; the King. Finally, they had found someone to be executed and their King was hanged by the official force of law.
Stanza 9
Explanation: The Ministers of the Royal Court heaved a sigh of relief as they found someone to be put to death for the faulty arch. They feared that if they would have not found someone, the disorderly crowd would begin questioning the power and integrity of the power vested in the Crown. “Long live the King”, everyone said. It brings out the irony because the King they were hailing for, was no longer alive. They wanted their King to live a long life but on the other hand, they were relieved to have found someone to execute even if it was their King.
Stanza 10
Explanation: At first, the ministers were indecisive as to how to choose their new King. But reasonable as they were, they sent out the official messengers to declare that their next ruler will be chosen by the one who passes the City Gate next. The one chosen by him will be declared ‘King’ with due ceremony as was the custom.
Stanza 11
Explanation: The next to pass the City Gate was a man, nay, an idiot. The guards stopped him and asked him to name their next King. An idiot as he was, he answered, ‘a melon’. Not to call it his mistake or anyone else’s, this was his fixed reply to all the questions as the man was fond of melons. The ministers crowned a melon believing that it is now going to rule over their city. They set the melon on the throne and declared him ‘King’.
Stanza 12
Explanation: Now, the melon was declared the King many years ago and now when anyone asks the people of the city about how it all happened, they simply call it a “customary choice”. It means that their regulations pushed them towards making a melon their King. But now, they are more than happy with their King being a melon because the people live in peace and enjoy freedom. They are flourishing with no interference by their King.
Literary Devices used in the poem
- Alliteration – Examples – “The workment went”; “Tricky Thing”
- Repetition – The words and phrases have been repeated throughout the poem. For example, “The Chief Of Builders”
- Inversion – Poets usually change the order of the words in sentences to make it poetic. Here in The Tale of The Melon City, Seth has used this poetic device as well
The Tale of Melon City- Question and Answers
- Who is to be the King? Decide!’ ‘A melon,’ the idiot replied.
- ‘You Are now our King,’ the Ministers said, Crowning a melon.
Irony
- A frown appeared upon his placid face.
- ‘Long live the King!’ the Ministers said. ‘Long live the King! The King is dead.’
What does the melon city symbolise?
What do you understand by laissez-faire?
What is the irony in the poem The Tale of Melon City?
A brief note on poem
The Tale of Melon City Summary shows us how a lack of good political leadership can pose threats to the members of the administration and government. A leader has to be clear-headed and wise while making decisions. Not having a good grip on one’s state affairs can quickly weaken a leader in the eyes of the general public and create reasons for revolt and agitation in their fellow citizens. Also, sticking to archaic rules and traditions might not always help the development and progress of a state. The king’s decision to punish just about anyone for the arch being low, that too because of the king’s own fault, demonstrates his vain and rigidly orthodox nature. The poet also shows us the dynamics involved in a government based on laissez-faire where the ruling authority does not interfere much in the ways of people’s businesses, economic conditions and working lives. The king ordered the arch to impress his fellow citizens, but he was triggered by the low height of the arch. He planned to punish the builder, but due to his poor insight and weak leadership skills, he could not make a decision. Things took an ugly turn when the king himself was hanged to satisfy the angered public gathered there. Ultimately, a melon was crowned as a king. Here we can again see blind loyalty toward customs and traditions. The melon represents the lack of a functional ruler who can take decisive actions. The citizens are happy as long as they are peacefully left to their state of affairs.
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