Mrs. Packletide's Tiger
The story revolves around Mrs. Packletide, a middle-aged woman who has always been fascinated by the exotic and the unusual. She decides to shoot a tiger in India, not for any practical reason but simply because it's something she wants to do. Mrs. Packletide travels to India with her maid, Alice, and hires a local guide, Ransome, to take them on a hunting expedition. Along the way, they encounter various obstacles and challenges, including treacherous terrain, inclement weather, and the complexities of Indian culture. As they journey deeper into the jungle, Mrs. Packletide becomes increasingly obsessed with shooting the tiger, despite the risks and difficulties involved. Her motivations are not driven by a desire for sport or adventure, but rather by a sense of vanity and a need to prove herself. The story is a satirical commentary on British colonialism and the societal norms of the time, as well as a critique of the excesses and superficiality of the upper class. Through Mrs. Packletide's character, the author pokes fun at the idea of imperialism and the notion that Westerners can simply impose their will on foreign cultures. Ultimately, Mrs. Packletide does manage to shoot the tiger, but not without significant consequences for herself and those around her. The story ends with a sense of irony and absurdity, highlighting the futility and foolishness of Mrs. Packletide's actions.
By Hector Hugh Munro · First published 1908 · Genre: Satire, Comedy, Short Story · 1,506 words
First lines
It was Mrs. Packletide's pleasure and intention that she should shoot a tiger. Not that the lust to kill had suddenly descended on her, or that she felt that she would leave India safer and more wholesome than she had found it, with one fraction less of wild beast per million of inhabitants. The compelling motive for her sudden deviation towards the footsteps of Nimrod was the fact that Loona Bimberton had recently been carried eleven miles in an aeroplane by an Algerian aviator, and talked of nothing else; only a personally procured tiger-skin and a heavy harvest of Press photographs could successfully counter that sort of thing. Mrs. Packletide had already arranged in her mind the lunch she would give at her house in Curzon Street, ostensibly in Loona Bimberton's honour, with a tiger-skin rug occupying most of the foreground and all of the conversation. She had also already designed in her mind the tiger-claw brooch that she was going to give Loona Bimberton on her next birthday.
What this Textopian page supports
Mrs. Packletide's Tiger is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hector Hugh Munro, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Hector Hugh Munro
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Comedy, Short Story, Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 1,506 words
- Structure: 1 section, 28 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for Mrs. Packletide's Tiger by Hector Hugh Munro
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Mrs. Packletide's Tiger?
- How does this short story by Hector Hugh Munro fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Satire — The story uses humor and irony to critique social pretensions and the lengths people go to for status.
- Comedy — The narrative is filled with humorous situations and witty dialogue, particularly in the interactions between characters.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a single incident with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
- Fiction — The story is a fictional account of an event that explores human behavior and societal norms.
Tags
Satire · Humor · Dark Comedy · Short Story · Literary Fiction · Social Commentary · Class Satire · Victorian Era · British Literature · Irony · Absurdity · Morality Tale