23. Summary of the story

"Princess September" is written by Somerset Maugham, abridged from "Princess September and the Nightingale". Like usual Maugham's works, this story is based on the conflict of human emotions.

 

The King and Queen of Siam give birth to several daughters and name them in the order of the months, with the last being Princess September (the Protagonist). On one of his birthdays, the King presents to each of his daughters a parrot in a golden cage. The parrots become much talked about in the palace until September's parrot dies in the cage, and she befriends a Nightingale out of the blue.

 

 

While the parrots can only utter a few words, the songbird can enchant the crowd with distinctive songs. The Nightingale now grabs all the attention, much to the dismay of the other eight princesses. Hence the sisters manipulate September into shutting the bird in a cage, citing the hawks and snares in the kingdom.

 

The songbird's plea goes in vain. Nevertheless, the bird is locked in a cage, thereby refusing to sing or eat. However, on witnessing the bird's plight, September goes against her sisters' misadvise to free the bird. The bird, in return, promises to visit her often and sticks to its vow.

 

The bird, when let free, comes back with the loveliest of songs. The rapport between the bird and Princess grows beautifully, and so does the Princess. On the other hand, the eight princesses grow to be ugly and disagreeable.

 

At the end of the story, Princess September is married to the King of Cambodia, being carried off on a white elephant while the other eight princesses are married off to the less-worthy councillors of the King with a pound of tea and a Siamese cat.