When Putraka was alone, he threw himself upon the ground and wept very
bitterly. He felt that he could never be happy again, never trust
anyone again. He had so loved his father and uncles. It had been such a
joy to him to give them pleasure, and yet they hated him and wished to
kill him. He wondered whether he was himself to blame for what had
happened, and began to think he was not worthy to be king, if he could
make such a mistake as he now feared he had made in being so generous
to those who could have such hard thoughts of him as to want to take
his life. Perhaps after all it would be better for his country to have
another king. He did not feel as if he could go back to his palace and
meet his father and uncles again. “What shall I do? What shall I do?”
he cried, his sobs choking his voice. Never in all his life had he
thought it possible to be so miserable as he was now. Everything seemed
changed and he felt as if he were himself a different person. The only
thing that comforted him at all was the thought of his mother, whose
love had never failed him; but even that was spoiled by the remembrance
that it was her husband who had wished to kill him. She must never know
that, for it would break her heart: yet how could he keep it from her?
Then the idea came to him that the best thing he could do would be to
go away and never see his own people again.
15. What do you think was wrong in Putraka’s way of looking at the
past?
16. Was his idea of leaving his country and his people a sign of
weakness or of strength?