Theme of Mrs Packletide’s Tiger –
The chapter highlights the themes of jealousy, competition, and the desire for social status. It also throws light on the dark aspect of British colonialism in India, specially the exploitation of native wildlife.
Another theme of “Mrs. Packletide’s Tiger” by Saki is the dangers of envy, the desire for social respect, and paying any the price of achieving it.
Also Read:
Mrs Packletide Tiger Summary
Mrs Packletide’s Tiger Extract-Based MCQ
Mrs Packletide Tiger Short Question Answer
Mrs Packletide’s Tiger Characters
Justification of the Theme Mrs Packletide’s Tiger-
Mrs. Packletide, a wealthy and arrogant woman, is envious of her rival named Loona Bimberton. Actually Loona who has received public attention for a tiger hunt. Mrs. Packletide decides to outshine Loona Bimberton by planning a tiger hunt of her own. She is determined to kill a tiger and have its skin displayed in her home to gain social status and prestige.
Actually Mrs. Packletide is not a skilled hunter herself. She hires a professional hunter and bribes villagers to help her arrange a tiger hunt.
In spite of not being a professional hunter Mrs. Packletide wants to shine more than a professional hunter it reveals the dangerous consequences of envy and the desire for social status.
Mrs. Packletide’s obsession with gaining prestige leads her to engage in unethical and dangerous behavior, and ultimately, she realizes that the price she pays for her social status is not worth it. The story also highlights the exploitative nature of British colonialism in India, where native people and wildlife were treated as commodities to be exploited for personal gain.
Overall, the theme of “Mrs. Packletide’s Tiger” is an advisory that warns against the dangers of envy and the desire for social status and highlights the negative consequences of exploiting people and wildlife for personal gain.
Write a note on the title of Mrs. Packletide’s Tiger
The title of “Mrs. Packletide’s Tiger” is significant because it focuses on the central character of the story. This is the quality of Shakespearean plays. The whole story moves around Mrs. Packletide. She is a wealthy woman in British colonial India. she is very much willing to hunt a tiger to gain high social status. She hires a skilled hunter instructs him to arrange the hunt.
The event was organised, however, the result was not as anticipated, and the tiger itself becomes a symbol of the dangers of envy and the high price of social status.
The title also hints at the satirical and ironic tone of the story, where Mrs. Packletide’s desire for outshining a skilled hunter named Loona.
Another thing which makes the title appropriate is the word tiger. Actually it is the central object of her desire, and the title of the story highlights this fact.
The tiger also becomes a symbol of the negative aspects of British colonialism in India, where native wildlife and people were often exploited for personal gain. The title of the story, therefore, reflects the central theme of the dangers of envy, the high price of social status, and the negative consequences of exploitation.
About the Author of the chapter Mrs Packletide’s Tiger
The writer of “Mrs. Packletide’s Tiger” is Hector Hugh Munro, who is better known by his pen name, Saki.
Saki was actually a British writer known for his witty and satirical short stories, many of which were set in the Edwardian era of British society. He was born in Burma in 1870 and spent much of his childhood in England with his aunts, who were known for their abnormality.
Saki began his writing career as a journalist before writing short stories. His stories are usually contain dark humor, irony, and satire. He was known for his sharp wit and wisdom.
He wrote several collections of short stories, including
“Reginald” and “The Chronicles of Clovis,” which are considered classics of British humor.
He had witnessed the strict social conventions and hypocrisy of British society. His stories often mocked and satirized the upper classes, their social customs, and their beliefs.
Unfortunately, his writing career was cut short when he was killed in action during World War I at the age of 45.
Despite his short career, Saki remains an important figure in British literature and his stories continue to be enjoyed by readers today.
