Bring out the sarcasm in the Tale of melon city.
The poem “The Tale of Melon City” is a satirical take on those who are in power and their whimsical nature. The poet effectively brings out the foolishness and fickle nature of the king through satire. The King is called 'just' and 'placid' all through the poem; however, it is highly ironical how 'justice' is executed by him and ministers. The king wanted to build a triumphal arch on the major road of his city but he banged his head against the same triumphal arch that knocked his crown off. Though he wanted to punish the one guilty for having built so low an arch, in the end he gets himself hanged. It is also ironical that after the king is dead the ministers make proclamations in the name of the king. The poet satirises the next king and the process through which the next king is chosen by the ‘idiot’. And the final irony lies in the concept of laissez faire that becomes prevalent in the city because of the ‘melon’ king making the life of the citizens 'peaceful'.