Essay on "the Fortune Teller" by Karel Capek

Target Audience: Polytechnic Teachers and Students in Tamilnadu
Subject: English-2, II YEAR MOP, M SCHEME
Question Pattern in Exam: Answer anyone of the following in 200 words each. (1x10=10) 
Three quesions will be asked from four short stories prescribed in the syllabus and students have to answer one.

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Preface:
“The Fortune Teller” is a short story penned by Karel Capek, a famous Czech writer.  The story is about a fake fortune teller (astrologer) in England called Mrs. Myers.  How she is trapped by the detective inspector Mr. MacLeary and punished by the magistrate Kelly is the story.  But how her prophecy turns out to be true is the irony of life. Everyone’s judgment goes wrong but not the predictions of the fake astrologer.

The Predictions by Mrs. Myers
Inspector Mr.MacLeary spreads a net to catch Mrs.Myers by sending his wife Mrs.MacLeary.  His wife pretends as if she is a 20 years old unmarried girl.  Mrs. Myers reads the cards.  She predicts that the girl is going to marry a young rich business man before the end of the year.  An elderly man will be an obstacle on her way but she will succeed and move across the ocean after marriage. The fee -one pound and one shilling is paid for her predictions.

The Trial Scene in the Court
The inspector files a case against Mrs. Myers.  She is summoned to court for trial.  She argues that Mrs.MacLeary appeared as an unmarried anxious girl that is why I predicted so.  However her fradulence is proved and she is sentenced to deportation.  She also has to pay the penalty of 50 pounds.

The Irony of Life
A year later, the judge Mr. Kelley meets the inspector by chance. He is shocked to know that Mrs.MacLeary eloped with a young rich businessman from Melbourne.  She crossed the ocean a weak ago for Australia.  Mrs. Myers is a fraud but her prediction becomes true.  The inspector and judge are able to judge Mrs. Myers but not the mysterious happenings in life.  Destiny overrules human intelligence.