Summary
Tiger King is the story of a cruel king who ignored the people and actions of his kingdom in order to kill the kingdom's tigers. At his birth, a famous astrologer had predicted that he would be killed by the 100th tiger. Soon after, the king went on a tiger killing spree and eliminated all the tigers in his kingdom.
The Prophecy
When the king was born, the astrologers predicted that the prince would die from a tiger. This prophecy leads to a dramatic moment where the infant prince, defying normal infant behavior, speaks up questioning the prophecy
The prince boldly declares that tigers should beware of him, hinting at his future obsession with killing tigers.
The astrologers refined their prediction to say that he could kill the ninety-nine tigers but it would be the hundredth tiger that would ultimately lead to his death.
The Maharaja's Resolve
After ascending the throne, the Maharaja made a vow to kill a hundred tigers. Motivated by his desire to dodge the prophecy, this mission becomes the primary goal of his life.
To keep the tigers safe for himself, the Maharaja bans tiger hunting throughout his kingdom. Anyone who hunts a tiger is severely punished.
Conflict with British officials
The British officials, known for their love of hunting, are unhappy with the ban. A particular British officer wants to hunt tigers in the Maharaja's kingdom.
The Maharaja fears that the officer's hunting may reduce the number of his tigers, so he bribes him with expensive gifts, including diamond rings, to stop him from hunting. The officer's wife accepts the bribe and the crisis is averted.
The Maharaja becomes increasingly tyrannical, imposing heavy taxes and harsh punishments to ensure that no one else hunts tigers. This shows his autocratic rule and also the lengths he can go to protect his passion.
The Maharaja continues hunting, killing ninety-nine tigers over the years. He faces many challenges, including a temporary shortage of tigers in his kingdom.
At one point, he marries the princess of a neighboring kingdom, choosing her kingdom based on the abundance of tigers there. This marriage allows him to continue hunting tigers.
The Hundredth Tiger
After killing ninety-nine tigers, the Maharaja becomes desperate to find the hundredth tiger to fulfill his goal and disprove the prophecy.
They search hard but find none. Finally, a tiger is found. The Maharaja takes aim and shoots, determined to kill it.
Believing he has killed the hundredth tiger, he is relieved and celebrates his victory. However, his men discover that the bullet had only grazed the tiger and it was still alive.
To avoid disappointing the king, the soldiers quietly kill the tiger themselves and bury it. The Maharaja remains unaware of this deception.
The Maharaja's death
The prophecy comes true in an unexpected way. The Maharaja's son turns three, and the king decides to give him a wooden tiger as a birthday gift. Ironically, the toy is poorly made, with a rough surface and small pieces of wood protruding from it.
While playing with the toy, a piece pierces the Maharaja's hand. The wound becomes infected, leading to serious complications and eventually the Maharaja's death.
Thus, the hundredth "tiger" in the form of a wooden toy fulfills the prophecy.
