The Man Who Wished to be Perfect Question Answer | XI WBCHSE 2nd Semester
1. Evaluate Lal Behari Dey as a folktales writer with reference to ‘The Man Who Wished to be Perfect’.
Ans. Lal Behari Dey, a prominent Indian writer, effectively captures the essence of Indian folk traditions in his tales. Through “The Man Who Wished to be Perfect,” exhibits a profound grasp of folk storytelling. His narrative, infused with elements of Indian mythology and folklore, masterfully weaves themes of sacrifice, duty, and fate.
Dey’s story begins with a king’s desperate desire for a son, setting the stage for a moral dilemma involving a mendicant’s promise. The subsequent trials of the twin princes highlight their valour and selflessness, especially evident when each volunteers to go with the mendicant. The younger prince’s journey to rescue his brother showcases Dey’s ability to blend suspense with cultural elements like the Rakshasi and the goddess Kali. The use of motifs such as the life-indicating tree and the transformative power of sacrifice underscores Dey’s skill in creating a rich, allegorical tapestry that resonates with the moral and spiritual ethos of Indian folklore.
Thus, Lal Behari Dey’s contribution as a folktales writer lies in his ability to weave moralistic and culturally rich stories that resonate with readers across generations.
2. Discuss in brief significance of the title “The Man Who Wished to be Perfect”?
Or, Shortly analyse the significance title “The Man Who Wished to be Perfect”.
Ans. The tale was written by Lal Behari Dey. He was an Indian journalist and Christian missionary. As we know title is the primary components of literature. Similarly the title “The Man who wished to be perfect,” lies in the central theme of seeking perfection through sacrifice and self-realization. The mendicant’s quest for perfection leads him to demand a prince as a sacrifice, but ultimately, it’s the prince who achieves perfection by outsmarting the mendicant and fulfilling his destiny. The title encapsulates the journey of both the mendicant and the prince, highlighting the universal human desire for perfection and the different paths taken to attain it. So the title is apt and appropriate.
3. Justify the story as an example of a Folktale.
Ans. Folktales are traditional stories passed down orally through generations, often embodying the values, beliefs, and cultural practices of a community. They frequently involve mythical creatures, moral lessons, and symbolic characters.
The story “The Man Who Wished to be Perfect” exemplifies a perfect folktale. It features archetypal characters-a king, queen, princes, and a mendicant- alongside supernatural elements like a Rakshasi and a magical tree. The younger prince’s journey to save his brother from a Rakshasi showcases bravery, cunning, and loyalty. The advice from the skulls and the ultimate defeat of the mendicant highlight themes of justice and triumph over evil. Through its rich imagery and timeless themes, this tale exemplifies the essence of folk tales, making the younger prince a perfect embodiment of the enduring spirit found within these traditional stories.
4. Justify the character of the ‘Mendicant.
Ans. In Lal Behari Dey’s folk-tale “The Man who wished to be perfect” the mendicant is a cunning and determined figure who uses his religious influence to strike a deal with the childless king, promising him twin sons in exchange for one of the boys.
He vanished and waits patiently for sixteen years, monitoring the princes’ growth. When he finally reappears, he shows no compassion, insisting on taking one prince despite the parents’ grief. He shows his meticulous nature and unwavering intent to claim his prize. Living in a secluded forest hut, he demonstrates a manipulative and sinister side. He plans to sacrifice the prince to achieve his own spiritual goals. He already sacrificed 6 persons for his own perfection. He imposes strict rules on the prince, emphasizing the forbidden northern direction to conceal the malevolent Rakshasi. Ultimately, his devotion to Kali and his sacrificial rituals reveal his dark and dangerous nature.
5. Justify the character of Rakshasi.
Ans. In Lal Behari Dey’s folk-tale “The Man who wished to be perfect” the Rakshasi, a demoness of terrifying power, disguised as a woman of unparalleled beauty, resided in a house in the northern part of the forest, forbidden by the mendicant.
She ensnared the elder prince with her charm and cunning natural. She offers him a dangerous game of dice. Each game won by the Rakshasi resulted in her seizing his beloved companions- first a young hawk, then a puppy, and finally himself. Ultimately she captured him entirely. Her true form was a flesh-eating demon, biding her time to devour him. When confronted by the younger prince, her deceptive allure remained intact. The Rakshasi was not invincible. She revealed her knowledge of the mendicant’s dark plans, seeking to bargain for her life with vital information. She advised them to verify this by visiting the temple and observing the skulls of the previous victims. She also shared a strategy to save the elder prince by tricking the mendicant into demonstrating a bow before Kali. Though, she is a devil but at the other hand she saved elder Prince’s life by revealing the truth about mendicant.
6. What was the condition imposed by the mendicant on the king in exchange for the medicine?
Ans. In Lal Behari Dey’s folk-tale “The Man Who Wished to be Perfect” a king was desperate for a son to bear his kingdom To solve the problem a religious mendicant came to the King and said, “I can give to the queen a drug, by swallowing which she will give birth to twin sons; but I will give the medicine on this condition, that of those twins you will give one to me, and keep the other yourself.” Despite finding the condition hard, the king agreed because he was anxious to have a son to bear his name and inherit his wealth and kingdom. Consequently, the queen took the drug and bore twin sons. The mendicant vanished and did not claim his share until the princes were sixteen years old.
7. How did the king and queen react when the mendicant finally appeared to claim his share?
Ans. The king was desperate because he has no children, and then the Mendicant offers a drug to the queen that would result in the birth of twin sons, but on the condition that one of the sons would be given to the mendicant.
The king and queen were devastated when the mendicant finally appeared to claim his share of one of the twin princes. They were plunged into grief, realizing they had to fulfill their promise despite the heartbreaking choice. Each prince expressed willingness to go, showing their selflessness and love for their family. After much struggle and lamentation, they reluctantly let the elder prince go with the mendicant. Their sorrow deepened as they watched him depart, knowing the dangers he might face. Before leaving the Kingdom he kissed and embraced the king and queen and his brother.
8. How did the elder prince end up in the house of the Rakshasi?
Ans. In the story “The Man Who Wished to be Perfect” the elder prince follows Mendicant to fulfill the condition that given by the Mendicant. The elder prince ended up in the house of the Rakshasi because he disobeyed the mendicant’s warning not to go towards the north. Here he encountered a beautiful woman with unparalleled beauty. She ensnared the elder prince with her charm and cunning. She was actually a Rakshasi who trapped him through a game of dice. Each time he lost, he wagered one of his companions-first a young hawk, then a puppy, and finally himself. As the Rakshasi intended to devour him, his younger brother, guided by the Rakshasi’s revelation, rescued him by outwitting the mendicant and defeating him at the temple of Kali, where the elder prince was meant to be sacrificed.
9. What did the Rakshasi reveal to the princes when they spared her life?
Ans. In the story of Lal Behari Dey’s “The Man Who Wished to be Perfect” we see, the Rakshasi captured the prince himself by playing the game of dice.
When confronted by the younger prince, the rakshasi lost the game. They got everything which have been lost previously. Then the Rakshasi revealed to the princes that the mendicant was a worshipper of the goddess Kali, seeking perfection through human sacrifices. He had already sacrificed six victims and needed a seventh to complete his devotions. The elder prince was intended to be this final victim. She advised them to verify this by visiting the temple and observing the skulls of the previous victims. She also shared a strategy to save the elder prince by tricking the mendicant into demonstrating a bow before Kali, giving the prince an opportunity to behead him and thwart his ritual. Thus revealing the truth about mendicant she saved prince’s life.
10. How did the elder prince escape his fate at the temple of kali?
Ans. In the story of Lal Behari Dey’s “The Man Who Wished to be Perfect” the mendicant had intended to offer the prince as the seventh human sacrifice to complete his devotions and achieve perfection. However, the skulls informed the prince that if he pretended ignorance of how to bow before the goddess Kali and asked the mendicant to demonstrate, he could then take advantage of the mendicant’s vulnerability. Following this advice, when the mendicant instructed him to prostrate, the prince claimed he did not know how and requested a demonstration. As the mendicant bowed down, the prince seized the moment, drew his sword, and beheaded the mendicant. This action not only saved the prince but also restored the skulls to life, and the goddess Kali granted the prince the virtues which the mendicant had sought. The princes then returned safely to their kingdom.
11. What was the significance of the tree planted by the elder prince?
Ans. Before the prince left his father’s roof he planted with his own hands a tree in the courtyard of the palace.
The tree planted by the elder prince held profound significance as it symbolized his life and well-being. This tree served as a tangible connection between the prince and his family, providing them with a way to monitor his condition from a far. The vitality of the tree indicated his safety, while any signs of wilting suggested danger or distress. Ultimately, the complete fading of the tree would signify his death. This symbolism not only heightened the emotional tension in the story but also played a crucial role in prompting the younger prince to embark on a mission to rescue his brother when he noticed the tree’s leaves fading, thus driving the plot forward.
12. How did the younger prince come to know about his brother’s peril?
Ans. In the story of Lal Behari Dey’s “The Man Who Wished to be Perfect” the elder Prince had planted a tree before leaving Kingdom.
The elder prince instructed that the tree’s condition would reflect his well-being: if the tree remained green, he was safe; if it faded partially, he was in danger; and if it withered completely, he was dead. One day, the younger prince noticed that some leaves of the tree had started to fade, indicating that his brother was in trouble. Alarmed by this sign, he informed the king and queen and decided to go to his brother’s aid. He planted a similar tree before leaving to ensure his parents would be informed of his own fate. The younger prince then embarked on a journey to the forest, guided by the fading tree’s warning, to rescue his brother.
13. What advice did the skulls in the temple give to the elder prince?
Ans. In the story of Lal Behari Dey’s “The Man Who Wished to be Perfect” the mendicant had intended to offer the prince as the seventh human sacrifice to complete his devotions and achieve perfection. However, the skulls informed the prince that if he pretended ignorance of how to bow before the goddess Kali and asked the mendicant to demonstrate, he could then take advantage of the mendicant’s vulnerability. Following this advice, when the mendicant instructed him to prostrate, the prince claimed he did not know how and requested a demonstration. As the mendicant bowed down, the prince seized the moment, drew his sword, and beheaded the mendicant. This action not only saved the prince but also restored the skulls to life, and the goddess Kali granted the prince the virtues which the mendicant had sought. The princes then returned safely to their kingdom.
14. How did the mendicant plan to attain perfection?
Ans. The mendicant planned to attain perfection by sacrificing seven human victims to the goddess Kali. He had already sacrificed six victims.
He made a deal with a king who has no children to bear his name and inherit his wealth and kingdom. The mendicant offers a drug to the queen that would result in the birth of twin sons, but on the condition that one of the sons would be given to the mendicant. The elder prince was given to the mendicant at age of sixteen. He was taken to the forest where the mendicant lived. The mendicant intended to offer the prince as his seventh and final sacrifice to achieve his goal of perfection. However, the prince outwitted the mendicant by following the advice of the skulls of previous victims, ultimately killing the mendicant and thereby ending his quest for perfection. The skulls then returned to life, and the prince was freed.
15. What ultimately happened to the mendicant and the elder prince?
Ans. The mendicant intended to use the elder prince as a human sacrifice to attain spiritual perfection. Forbidden from exploring the north, the prince eventually disobeyed and encountered a Rakshasi disguised as a beautiful woman.
However, with the help of the Rakshasi, the elder prince learned the mendicant’s plan and a way to thwart it. Following her advice, when the mendicant demanded the prince to bow before the goddess Kali, the prince feigned ignorance and requested the mendicant to demonstrate. As the mendicant prostrated, the prince beheaded him, thus preventing the mendicant from completing his ritual. This act restored the lives of the six previous victims whose skulls were kept in the temple, and the goddess Kali blessed the prince with the spiritual perfection the mendicant had sought. The two brothers then returned safely to their kingdom.
16. What moral lesson can be drawn from the tale of the two princes and the mendicant?
Ans. Lal Behari Dey’s tale “The Man Who wished to be Perfect” conveys several moral lessons including two Princes and the Mendicant.
Firstly, it underscores the value of self-sacrifice and familial love, as both princes were willing to sacrifice themselves for the other’s well-being. That highlights the value of selflessness. Secondly, the story warns against blind trust and emphasizes the importance of vigilance and critical thinking. The king’s agreement with the mendicant, driven by desperation, nearly led to tragic consequences. Lastly, it illustrates the principle that evil intentions often lead to one’s downfall, as seen with the mendicant, whose deceit and malevolence ultimately resulted in his demise and the princes’ victory. Thus, the narrative promotes virtues of selflessness, critical judgment, and the moral triumph over evil.
17. What role did the Rakshasi play in the princes’ deal?
Ans. In Lal Behari Dey’s folk-tale “The Man Who Wished to be Perfect” the Rakshasi, a demoness of terrifying power, disguised as a woman of unparalleled beauty, resided in a house in the northern part of the forest, forbidden by the mendicant.
She ensnared the elder prince with her charm and cunning. She offers him a dangerous game of dice. Each game won by the Rakshasi resulted in her seizing his beloved companions- first a young hawk, then a puppy, and finally himself. Ultimately she captured him entirely. Her true form was a flesh-eating demon, biding her time to devour him. When confronted by the younger prince, her deceptive allure remained intact. The Rakshasi was not invincible. She revealed her knowledge of the mendicant’s dark plans, seeking to bargain for her life with vital information. She advised them to verify this by visiting the temple and observing the skulls of the previous victims. She also shared a strategy to save the elder prince by tricking the mendicant into demonstrating a bow before Kali. Though, she is a devil but at the other hand she saved elder Prince’s life by revealing the truth about mendicant.
18. “As you are anxious to have a son” who said this and to whom? and why is he desperate?
Ans. The phrase “as you are anxious to have a son” was said by a religious mendicant to a king.
The king was desperate because he has no children to bear his name and inherit his wealth and kingdom. The mendicant offers a drug to the queen that would result in the birth of twin sons, but on the condition that one of the sons would be given to the mendicant. Despite finding the condition hard, the king agrees due to his strong desire for an heir. This agreement sets the stage for the events in Lal Behari Dey’s tale “The Man Who Wished to be Perfect.”
19. “The King thought the condition somewhat hard”- what was the condition?
Ans. In Lal Behari Dey’s folktale “The Man Who Wished to be Perfect” a king was desperate for a son to bear his kingdom
To solve the problem a religious mendicant carne to the King and said, “I can give to the queen a drug, by swallowing which she will give birth to twin sons; but I will give the medicine on this condition, that of those twins you will give one to me, and keep the other for yourself.” Despite finding the condition hard, the king agreed because he was anxious to have a son to bear his name and inherit his wealth and kingdom. Consequently, the queen took the drug and bore twin sons. The mendicant vanished and did not claim his share until the princes were sixteen years old.
20. “Come in, stranger”, who said this and to whom? And what happened thereafter?
Ans. The above phrase is taken from Lal Behari Dey‘s tale “The Man Who Wished to be Perfect.” The statement was said by a Rakshasi, disguised as a beautiful young woman, to the elder Prince.
After welcoming him she said, “don’t go away without having with me a game of dice.” The prince gladly agreed to the proposal. As it was a game of risk they agreed that if they lost the game they should give their young hawk, puppy and himself. Each time he lost, he wagered one of his companions-first a young hawk, then a puppy, and finally himself. As the Rakshasi intended to devour him, his younger brother, guided by the Rakshasi’s revelation, rescued him by outwritting the mendicant and defeating him at the temple of Kali, where the elder prince was suppossed to be sacrificed.
21. What is folktales? Evaluate ‘The Man Who Wished to be Perfect as a folktales.
Ans. Lal Behari Dey, a prominent Indian writer, effectively captures the essence of Indian folk traditions in his tales. Through “The Man Who Wished to be Perfect,” exhibits a profound grasp of folk storytelling. His narrative, infused with elements of Indian mythology and folklore, masterfully weaves themes of sacrifice, duty and fate. In summary, “The Man Who Wished to be Perfect”
fits well within the folktale genre, embodying key characteristics such as cultural relevance, moral lessons, supernatural elements, archetypal characters, and an engaging narrative suited for oral tradition.
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