2. The Tiger King - Class 12 - Vistas

Jul 30
4 min read

Updated: Aug 1

Author: Kalki

Vistas – Fiction / Satirical Short Story

Summary

The Tiger King is a satirical tale about the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram, who is obsessed with proving an astrologer wrong. At his birth, it is predicted that he will die because of a tiger. Determined to change his fate, the Maharaja sets out to kill one hundred tigers. He bans others from hunting and kills 99 tigers himself. However, the last tiger is secretly spared by his hunters, who don't tell him the truth.

Believing he has defeated fate, the Maharaja celebrates. On his son’s third birthday, he buys a wooden toy tiger as a gift. A splinter from the poorly crafted toy injures his hand, causing an infection that leads to his death. Ironically, he is killed not by a living tiger, but by the 100th symbolic tiger—through the toy.

The story mocks the arrogance of rulers, blind superstition, and the misuse of power. It also reflects on human cruelty towards animals and the futility of trying to escape destiny.

Character Sketch:

The Tiger King (Maharaja of Pratibandapuram)

Arrogant and Superstitious: Obsessed with defying a prophecy.
Determined: Hunts and kills 99 tigers to avoid fate.
Power-abusing: Bans others from hunting; threatens officials.
Foolish and Comic: Buys an overpriced toy to please his son.
Ironically Tragic: Dies due to a wooden tiger—becomes a victim of fate after all.

Themes

Theme	Description
Power and Arrogance	The Maharaja’s absolute authority blinds him to logic and leads to his downfall.
Fate vs Free Will	Despite all efforts, destiny fulfils itself in an unexpected way.
Satire on Royalty	The story mocks the vanity and foolishness of monarchs.
Animal Rights	Highlights cruelty towards animals through needless hunting.
Hypocrisy of Politics	Depicts sycophancy, bribery, and fear-driven administration.

✨ Literary Devices

Device	Example
Dramatic Irony	The Maharaja believes he killed the 100th tiger, but the reader knows he didn’t.
Satire	Mocks rulers who abuse power and try to defy fate.
Hyperbole	Grand titles like “Sata Vyaghra Samhari” exaggerate the king’s image.
Irony	Killed by a toy tiger after killing 99 real ones.
Personification	The toy tiger symbolically “takes revenge” on the king.

Title Justification

The title The Tiger King is fitting as the story revolves around a king whose entire life is dominated by the prophecy involving a tiger. The title captures both the literal and symbolic significance of tigers in his life. His identity is shaped by his obsession with killing tigers, yet it is a tiger—symbolically—that causes his death. The title reflects the irony, satire, and central focus of the story.

One-Mark Questions

Why was the Maharaja called “The Tiger King”?
→ He earned the title after killing many tigers to avoid the prophecy of being killed by one. The name reflects both his obsession and arrogance.
What prophecy was made at the Maharaja’s birth?
→ Astrologers predicted he would be killed by a tiger. This frightened the royal court and shaped the king’s future actions.
Why did the Maharaja ban all others from hunting tigers?
→ He wanted to reserve all tiger kills for himself to reach his goal of 100 tigers. This way, no one else would interfere with his fate.
How did the Maharaja try to please the British officer’s wife?
→ He sent 50 diamond rings to avoid trouble with a British officer. It cost him three lakh rupees, but he saved his kingdom.
How did the Maharaja actually die?
→ He was injured by a wooden toy tiger’s splinter, which led to an infection and death. Ironically, this fulfilled the prophecy.

Three-Mark Questions

Explain the role of dramatic irony in the story.
→ Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows more than the characters. The Maharaja thinks he has killed the 100th tiger, but readers know the tiger survived. His hunters quietly kill it later to save their jobs. This misunderstanding creates suspense and humor. It also shows the futility of trying to control fate.
What do the Maharaja’s actions reveal about his character?
→ He is self-centered, egotistical, and obsessed with defying fate. He misuses his power, exploits his people, and ignores responsibility. His fear of death drives him to irrational actions, like bribing and marrying for tiger access. In the end, his arrogance proves fatal. He becomes a comic-tragic figure of misplaced priorities.
What message does the story convey about cruelty to animals?
→ The story criticizes human cruelty disguised as bravery. The Maharaja kills innocent tigers only to protect himself. This blind slaughter is shown to be both unethical and pointless. The story subtly suggests that nature cannot be dominated by fear or power. True courage lies in respect, not destruction.

Value-Based Question

Q: What moral lesson can we learn from the fate of the Tiger King?

→ The story teaches that no one can escape destiny. It warns against arrogance, misuse of power, and harming innocent lives for selfish gain. The king’s obsession blinds him to real responsibilities. In the end, nature takes its course, proving that truth, humility, and compassion are more important than control or pride.

End

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