How Is Hop Frog Justified For Killing The King

I think that Hop Frog is justified for killing the king and his seven ministers because of how cruel they were towards Hop Frog and Trippetta. During the wine scene in the story, the king exhibits his cruel nature by forcing Hop Frog to drink the wine. Even though the king knows that Hop Frog is not comfortable doing it he still makes him, knowing very well how it affects Hop Frog. The other seven ministers do not take pity of Hop Frog, even they smirk and laugh at the king’s horribly cruel stunt. Even when Trippetta falls on her knees and begs the king to stop his merciless joke, he throws her aside like a rag doll and throws the remaining wine onto her. The entire scene was vile but a particularly horrid line was, ““Drink, I say!” shouted
the monster” (Poe 3). This is when the king is forcing Hop Frog to drink the wine and specifically seems nasty towards him. The wine scene is not the only example of the king’s cruelty but also how Hop Frog is constantly used for entertainment by the king and his ministers. One example of how Hop Frog is just amusement to the king is when he is given the name “Hop Frog”. The king is mocking his inability to walk and constantly reminds him every time anyone says his name. Hop Frog is also called a dwarf and a cripple and because of that people view him as less. During the beginning of the story the narrator tells us that, “His [Hop Frog] value was trebled in the eyes of the king…” (Poe 1). This quote shows that not only does the king laugh and ridicule him but he also degrades Hop Frog. The king is not only cruel towards Hop Frog and Trippetta but he also uses Hop Frog for entertainment countless amount of times which causes Hop Frog to rage and seek vengeance towards the king and his seven ministers by killing them, and rightly so.