Class11 Ch 5(Snapshots)

Chapter 5

 The Tale of Melon City 

Author: Vikram Seth

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🖋️ About the Author:

• Vikram Seth (born 1952) is a renowned Indian poet, novelist, and travel writer.

• He is best known for his epic novel “A Suitable Boy.”

• His writing style is marked by clarity, wit, and a blend of modern and classical influences.

• Seth is also admired for his narrative poetry, as seen in The Tale of Melon City.

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📚 Introduction to the Chapter:

• The Tale of Melon City is a narrative poem with a satirical tone.

• It critiques mindless justice systems, absolute monarchy, and public apathy.

• The poem uses humor, irony, and rhyme to expose the absurdity of blindly followed traditions.

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🧵 Summary:

• The poem is set in a city ruled by a just and peace-loving king.

• One day, he orders an arch to be built to celebrate the city’s glory.

• After the construction, the arch falls and hits the king’s crown.

• Angry, the king demands the chief of the construction be hanged.

• A chain of blame-shifting begins—from the chief architect to the workmen, to the architect, and finally to the king himself.

• Ironically, the king declares that someone must be punished, and the crowd demands the king himself be hanged.

• The king agrees (to follow justice), and he is executed.

• As per tradition, the new ruler is chosen by the next person who passes by, who declares, "A melon should be the ruler."

• Since the people value tradition, a melon is crowned and rules the city — now called Melon City.

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👤 Main Characters:

1. The King – Obsessed with justice, but ends up executing himself.

2. The Ministers & Citizens – Blindly follow customs without questioning.

3. The Architect/Builders – Blame others to escape punishment.

4. The Stranger (passer-by) – Randomly decides the next ruler (a melon).

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💡 Themes:

1. Satire on Monarchy and Justice – Shows how blindly following “justice” can become ridiculous.

2. Absurdity of Traditions – Emphasizes how traditions are followed without logic.

3. Public Apathy – Citizens are indifferent as long as they are left alone and the ruler doesn’t interfere.

4. Irony – A city ruled by a melon exposes the absurd outcomes of extreme systems.

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📝 Important Points:

• The poem uses humor, irony, and rhyme to make a serious point.

• The title itself is ironic — suggesting the absurd nature of the city's leadership.

• It highlights how power structures can fail if people stop thinking rationally.

• The poem ends with a darkly humorous twist, showing the failure of reason in governance.

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✍️ Moral/Message:

The poem teaches us to question traditions, think logically, and not blindly follow authority. Justice must be based on reason and fairness, not on customs or pressure.

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