The Tale of Melon City

The Tale of Melon City Summary

In this poem, we journey to a city governed by a just and placid King. He orders the construction of an arch to enhance the beauty of the thoroughfare. However, when the arch proves too low and knocks off his crown, the King seeks justice and decides that the chief builder should be hanged. But, as the blame shifts from the builder to the workmen, then to the masons, and finally to the architect, the poem humorously illustrates the absurdity of the King’s rigid sense of justice. Each party involved points fingers at the other, showcasing how responsibility is evaded. The King, determined to uphold justice, calls upon the wisest man in the land for advice. This old, feeble man suggests that the arch itself should be punished, leading to a comical situation where the King contemplates hanging the arch. However, a clever councillor points out that it wouldn’t be fitting to hang something that touched the King's head. Thus, the King finds himself in a dilemma, as he needs to pacify the crowd demanding punishment. In a twist of fate, the King realizes that the only one tall enough to fit the noose is himself, which leads to a moment of dark humor where he is hanged by royal decree. The ministers breathe a sigh of relief as they avert the crowd's anger and ponder who will rule the city next. They decide that whoever passes by the City Gate will be crowned as the new ruler. An unintelligent man strolls by and, when asked who should be King, responds, 'A melon.' The ministers, in a comedic turn of events, accept this answer and crown a melon as their new ruler. The poem concludes by reflecting on how the citizens accept this strange situation. They believe that as long as the melon does not interfere with their peace and liberty, it may reign as their King. Overall, the poem presents a satirical take on governance and the complexities of justice. It encourages readers to think critically about the absurdities that can arise in leadership and the importance of humor in the face of ridiculous situations. The theme of laissez-faire shines through, where the people simply wish for harmony rather than a traditional ruler, embracing their unusual King as long as their peace remains intact.