Discuss the following question in detail and write the answers in your notebooks:

Sometimes writers highlight certain negative aspects of society or human beings by making fun of it. This is called satire. In your groups discuss whether you would classify this story as a satire. Give reasons to support your answer.

In this text, the narrator adopts the technique of satire to mock the characters and to expose their particular idiosyncrasies. Mrs. Packeltide’s singular intention was to prevent Loona Bimberton’s growing fame and popularity. Loona Bimberton too was insecure of Mrs. Packeltide’s limelight and wanted to capture a share of it. She even turned down Mrs. Packeltide’s invitation for a lunch party organized in her honor. The language of her letter of thanks sent to Mrs. Packeltide very clearly stated her repressed emotions. Miss Mebbin is another character in this story who adopts an opportunistic stance and tries to blackmail Mrs. Packeltide with the truth of the tiger shooting in order to procure a cottage from her. Besides, the whole affair of tiger hunting is conjoined with satire. Instead of killing a weak tiger, Mrs. Packeltide ends up shooting a goat while making the tiger die in fright. The writer skillfully satirizes these characters to expose them to their barest possibilities to show the possible streaks of human nature and behavior present in society