His Fly-Speck Majesty
Story Summary
In "His Fly-Speck Majesty," a Distinguished Advocate of Republican Institutions eagerly awaits the arrival of the King of the Fly-Speck Islands while wading in the ocean, despite having previously denounced kings as blood-smeared oppressors in a public speech. When questioned by the Spectator about his apparent hypocrisy, he dismisses the concerns as irrelevant, claiming to have spoken of kings in the abstract. This small moral story echoes famous fables with moral lessons, highlighting the complexities of ideals versus personal ambitions in the pursuit of uplifting narratives.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
The story highlights the hypocrisy of individuals who criticize authority in theory but eagerly seek its favor in practice.
Historical Context
This story reflects the satirical style of early 20th-century literature, particularly reminiscent of the works of authors like Mark Twain and H.L. Mencken, who critiqued societal norms and political hypocrisy. It plays on the tension between republican ideals and the allure of monarchy, echoing themes found in fables and parables that explore human contradictions, such as Aesop's fables and the moral tales of La Fontaine. The humor arises from the protagonist's dissonance between his professed beliefs and his actions, a trope prevalent in literary retellings of political discourse.
Our Editors Opinion
This story highlights the hypocrisy often found in political advocacy, where ideals can be easily compromised for personal gain or status. In modern life, this is reflected in scenarios where individuals or leaders publicly denounce corruption or inequality while privately engaging in the very behaviors they criticize, such as a politician who champions environmental policies yet lobbies for fossil fuel interests when it benefits their career.
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Related Collections
Other names for this story
The Fly-Speck King, Ocean's Royal Advocate, The Crowned Hand, Monarch of the Sea, Sovereign of the Sands, The Advocate's Dilemma, Kings and Irrelevancies, His Majesty Awaits
Did You Know?
This story humorously highlights the theme of hypocrisy in political beliefs, as the Distinguished Advocate, despite decrying monarchy, reveals a willingness to compromise his principles for personal gain and recognition.
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Story Details
- Age Group
- adultkidschildrenstory for class 4story for class 5story for class 6story for class 7story for class 8
- Theme
- HypocrisyPolitical SatireLoyalty
- Characters
- Distinguished Advocate of Republican InstitutionsSpectatorHis Majesty the King of the Fly-Speck Islands
- Setting
- oceandry landSociety for the Prevention of the Protrusion of Nail Heads from Plank SidewalksFly-Speck Islands