In “Hop Frog” by Edgar Allan Poe, Hop Frog’s actions are justified throughout the short story. One way Hop Frog justifies his actions is because the king is mean to him. The king constantly belittles him. He makes fun of Hop Frog because of his disabilities. The king and his men give Hop Frog his nickname because he could only move with a leap and a wiggle of a movement. The king chooses him as his jester and always makes fun of him. Hop Frog does not like to drink alcohol, but the king forces him anyway. The king even makes a toast to friends Hop Frog is no longer acquainted with anymore: “Come here Hop Frog, swallow this bumper to the health of your absent friends” (Poe). After Hop Frog drinks the wine, his eyes fill with tears because of the king’s rude comment. The king seems oblivious to Hop Frog’s sadness: “Ah! Ha! Ha! See what a glass of good wine can do! Why, your eyes are shining already” (Poe). Another reason why Hop Frog’s actions are justified is that the king is also mean to Tripetta. Tripetta is prettier and more liked than Hop Frog. Tripetta tries to help Hop Frog and stand up for him. Because of this, the king violently pushes her and throws wine in her face. It is evident that this incident botheres Hop Frog. He references it at the end of the story when he explains his reasons for harming the king: …show more content…
They are a great king and his seven privy-councillors. –a king who does not scruple to strike a defenseless girl and his seven councillors who abet him in the outrage. As for myself, I am simply the jester- and this is my last jest. (Poe) Reasons like this give Hop Frog ideas of getting back at the king. This shows how Hop Frog gets revenge from the mistreating by the king. Hop Frog’s actions are justified throughout the story because of the horrible comments and actions of the