Back to: Karnataka Board Class 8th Notes & Solutions
Table of Contents
Introduction
The story ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ is a play based on a folk tale. Ideas of self-deception and loyalty to authorityare explored in this classic story. A city’s Emperor enjoys getting dressed up in new clothes. Two weavers arrive in his city and offer to make him a suit that would appear invisible to foolish people. The weavers merely act as though they are weaving the suit and show the fake suit to the entire city. Everyone who looks at the outfit is concerned about what they can’t see and whether or not they are smart.
The Foolish Emperor and His Robes
Once upon a time, there was a proud and silly emperor who was very fond of changing his robes frequently. He spent the most of his time experimenting on different outfits. As a result, he had very little time to attend to the kingdom’s problems. The Emperor got agitated one day because he was dissatisfied with the garments presented by his Chief Adviser.
He commanded his Chief Adviser to expel all the worthless tailors in the city. He desired new clothing and a tailor who could create a new outfit for him every day. Two weavers, who were also magic tailors, were waiting to meet the emperor, according to the Chief adviser. The Emperor ordered to bring them in. The two weavers arrived and discussed their amazing garments. They mentioned that they will need the finest silk, the purest gold thread, and many diamonds to make the magnificent gown. The Emperor promises to provide all they require.
The weavers created a magical robe that not only looked beautiful, but also allowed the emperor to assess his people. Because only those who are intelligent, clever, and fit for their positions will see the outfit, while those who are foolish and unsuitable for their jobs will not. The emperor believed he would be able to determine who is qualified to run his kingdom’s affairs and who is not. To embellish the robe, the weavers were given a significant quantity of silk, the purest gold thread, and various diamonds.
The Chief Adviser came to meet the weavers the next evening. Weavers were pretending as if they were weaving. They appeared to be working hard, but the clothing on the looms were not visible to him. The cloth’s color, pattern, and design were described by the weavers. They accentuated (talked good about) the dress’s attractiveness. The Chief adviser gave the weavers a positive response because if he stated he couldn’t see the clothing, it meant he was a fool and unfit for his position. So, he sent his Special Assistant to look into the matter.
The Special Assistant, too, doubted the weavers. He was confused to see nothing on the looms. The weavers appreciated the clothing in the same way they did in front of the Chief Adviser. They assured that the robe would be ready the next morning. The Emperor arrived to the Hall with his Chief Adviser, Special Assistant, and other courtiers on the day of the ceremony. The weavers took the Emperor in the dressing room as everyone waited outside. The Emperor’s Chief Adviser said that if he appeared on the balcony before the parade, the people would be delighted. The Emperor agreed.
After getting dressed, the Emperor walks down the hall towards the balcony. The courtiers are taken aback by on seeing the Emperor almost naked. No one, however, says anything. When the emperor arrives on the balcony, the cheers suddenly halt and there is a pin-drop silence. A small child then exclaims, “Look, Daddy, the emperor has no clothes on at all!” This led to everyone questioning the Emperor’s mental and financial situation.
Conclusion
Almost every character in the tale engages in this self-deception in order to avoid the discomfort of the reality. The moral of the story is that we must not allow pride or fear to keep us from speaking the truth. Another lesson is that children, no matter what the situation, will always tell the truth.
