Analyzing 'Tiger King' Themes and Literary Techniques

Tiger King: A Fascinating Zoo Saga for English Class 12

Introduction

In 2020, "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness" captivated audiences worldwide, thanks to its blend of real-life drama, exotic animals, and charismatic characters. As we delve into the intriguing world of this Netflix docuseries, we'll explore the themes, conflicts, and characters that would make intriguing reading for English class 12 students.

The Central Cast

At the heart of the story lies Joe Exotic, a flamboyant, polygamous, gun-toting zoo owner who goes to extreme lengths to preserve his Tiger King title. His nemesis, Carole Baskin, runs a sanctuary called Big Cat Rescue, and she becomes Joe's chief rival. Other central figures include Bhagavan "Doc" Antle, known for his extensive collection of big cats, and Jeff Lowe, who takes over Joe's zoo after his legal troubles.

Themes and Conflicts

"Tiger King" explores several interconnected themes and conflicts:

1. Captivity vs. Conservation: The central conflict in the docuseries revolves around the morality of keeping big cats in captivity. The series presents both sides of the argument, with Joe Exotic and Doc Antle arguing that zoos and private ownership can help preserve endangered species, while Carole Baskin and other animal rights activists believe that big cats belong in the wild.

2. Animal Rights and Welfare: The series sheds light on the inhumane treatment of big cats in several zoos and raises questions about the welfare of animals in captivity. It also highlights the plight of big cats in the exotic pet trade.

3. Power and Control: The series explores the relationships between the central figures, highlighting their quest for power and control. It also discusses the role of money, manipulation, and deception in facilitating these dynamics.

4. Juxtaposition of Personalities: The series features characters with wildly different personalities and lifestyles, creating a dramatic and interesting contrast. The viewers are challenged to determine where they stand with respect to each character.

Literary Techniques

"Tiger King" employs several literary techniques that would be interesting for English class 12 students to analyze:

1. Symbolism: The series uses several symbols, such as the tiger, to represent themes like power, wilderness, and freedom.

2. Irony: The series features several instances of situational irony, where the outcome is the opposite of what is expected. For example, the zoo owner who is a staunch advocate of animal rights is later accused of animal abuse.

3. Characterization: The series skillfully portrays the central characters, revealing their inner motivations and desires, and the way they interact with their environment. This allows the viewers to make judgments and form opinions about the characters.

Conclusion

"Tiger King" is a captivating and multi-layered docuseries that provides English class 12 students a rich and fascinating text to analyze. The series explores themes such as animal rights and welfare, captivity vs. conservation, power and control, and juxtaposition of personalities, all of which would make for interesting and thought-provoking discussions and assignments. It employs several literary techniques, such as symbolism, irony, and characterization, which provide students with an opportunity to develop their analytical skills and critical thinking.