King and I Summary

The story is about Mrs. Anna Leonowens, who after her husband's death, takes a job as teacher to the many of children of King Mongkut the King of Siam. Anna finds when she arrives that the job and her new life are both wonderful and frustrating than she ever could have imagined. The children of the king are delightful and sweet, and the king is enchanting and progressive, but he is also very sexist. Most frustrating to her is the lack of a house which she was promised in her contract. She threatens to leave but the children convince her to stay. Her son Louis fears the Kralahome the kings prime minister. She is also puzzled with the tradition of taking many wife's the king has dozens of wives. Something she views as barbaric, the king wishes for Anna to help Modernize Saim, to bring European beliefs and make advances in science to show that he is not a barbarian. Enter the slave girl Tuptim and scholar Lun Tha. Tuptim is a gift from the King of Bruma the scholar is there to design a new temple; both are madly in love even though it is forbidden. Meanwhile Anna goes on instructing the children in English, music and geography the children are amazed at how small Siam is compared to the rest of the world. Anna learns that the British are sending an envoy to determine if the king is a barbarian and if there is a reason that they should take over. Anna decides to lend her help in setting up for the reception and in return the king grants her wish of a house. Among the envoy is Sir Edward Ramsey an ex of Anna and tries to convince her to return to Britan, he fails but as he leaves he informs the king that he has nothing to fear from the British. Meanwhile Tuptim and Lun Tha try to escape, the end result is Lun Than ends up dead and Tuptim is captured. Anna is found explaining European courtship her and the king dance and express a love for one another, it is at that moment the King informed of the escape attempt sets out to punish Tuptim with a flogging but cannot do it because he is changed by Anna's teachings. Months pass after the incident with Tuptim, Anna and the king do not speak , Anna is about to leave Siam but is informed of the kings Imminent death and rushes to see him. He apologizes and begs her to stay and be an advisor to his son Chulalongkorn, the King then dies