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.
You May Also Like
The Philosopher the Ants and Mercury
In this creative moral story, a philosopher, witnessing a tragic shipwreck, laments the injustice of Providence for allowing innocent lives to be lost due to one possible criminal aboard. However, when he retaliates against an ant that stings him by killing many of its kind, Mercury confronts him about his hypocrisy, highlighting the moral lesson that one should not judge Providence while acting with cruelty. This heartwarming moral story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of compassion and self-reflection, making it a fitting tale for moral stories for class 7.
The Crab and his Son
In "The Crab and his Son," a father crab criticizes his son for his ungraceful sidelong gait, prompting the son to point out his father's similar flaw. This exchange reveals the hypocrisy in the father's advice and serves as a valuable lesson from moral stories, emphasizing that one should lead by example. This short tale encapsulates the essence of educational moral stories, teaching readers the importance of self-reflection and consistency in behavior.
The Dog the Cock and the Fox
In this engaging animal story with a moral, a Dog and a Cock, great friends, seek shelter in a thick wood. When a hungry Fox attempts to trick the Cock, he cleverly leads the Fox to the Dog's hiding place, resulting in the Fox's demise. This concise moral story illustrates the value of friendship and cleverness, making it a fitting addition to short story collections with moral lessons for personal growth.
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.
Subscribe to Daily Stories
Get a new moral story in your inbox every day.
Explore More Stories
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