In the story "Too Dear!

" by Leo Tolstoy, the King of Monaco faces a dilemma in dealing

with a criminal who has committed murder. The reason for his indecision and frequent
change of mind stems from the financial constraints and absurdity of the situation in his
small, economically constrained kingdom.

Here is a breakdown of the key reasons for the King's vacillation:

1. Cost of Execution: Initially, the King decides that the criminal should be executed.
However, Monaco is too small to have its own executioner, and hiring one from
France or Italy proves to be exorbitantly expensive. The cost of carrying out the death
penalty is deemed too high for the small state's budget.
2. Life Imprisonment Expenses: When execution is ruled out due to the high costs, the
King considers sentencing the criminal to life imprisonment. However, this also turns
out to be expensive. The cost of maintaining a prisoner for life, including food,
guards, and facilities, would place a significant financial burden on the tiny kingdom.
3. Alternative Punishment: After contemplating the financial impracticality of both
execution and life imprisonment, the King and his council seek a cheaper alternative.
They eventually decide to offer the criminal a small pension and set him free on the
condition that he never returns to Monaco. This unconventional solution highlights
the absurdity of the situation and the lengths to which the King is willing to go to
avoid excessive expenditure.

In essence, the King's repeated changes of mind are driven by the economic constraints of
Monaco and the impracticality of traditional punitive measures for a small, financially limited
state. The story humorously critiques the bureaucratic and economic inefficiencies of
governance, especially in a tiny kingdom like Monaco.

In Leo Tolstoy's story "Too Dear!", the King of Monaco exhibits several distinctive
characteristics that paint a picture of his personality and leadership style:

1. Pragmatic: The King is pragmatic and practical in his decision-making. He is acutely

aware of the financial limitations of his small kingdom and makes decisions based on
what is economically feasible rather than what is traditionally expected. His shift from
execution to life imprisonment to eventually providing the criminal with a pension
demonstrates his practicality.
2. Frugal: The King is very concerned with the financial aspects of governance. His
reluctance to spend exorbitant amounts on the criminal's punishment highlights his
frugality. This concern for the kingdom's budget is a central theme in his decision-
making process.
3. Indecisive: The King's frequent changes of mind indicate a degree of indecisiveness.
Faced with the high costs of traditional punishments, he vacillates between different
options, struggling to find a solution that is both just and financially sustainable.
4. Clever and Resourceful: Despite his initial indecisiveness, the King eventually finds
a clever and unconventional solution to the problem by offering the criminal a
 pension to leave Monaco. This demonstrates his resourcefulness in finding a way out
of a difficult situation.
5. Humorous and Satirical: The portrayal of the King has a humorous and satirical
undertone. Tolstoy uses the King’s actions to critique and poke fun at the bureaucratic
inefficiencies and the absurdity of certain governmental processes. The King’s
handling of the criminal case is exaggerated to emphasize the ridiculousness of the
situation.
6. Caring for his Kingdom: Although his methods may seem absurd, the King’s actions
show that he cares about the well-being of his kingdom. He prioritizes the financial
stability of Monaco and seeks to avoid unnecessary expenses that could burden his
people.
7. Traditional yet Adaptable: The King initially adheres to traditional forms of
punishment, such as execution and life imprisonment. However, when these prove
impractical, he adapts and finds a new, albeit unorthodox, solution. This adaptability
indicates a willingness to change in response to circumstances.

Overall, the King of Monaco in "Too Dear!" is a character that embodies the themes of
practicality, frugality, and resourcefulness, while also serving as a vehicle for Tolstoy's
satirical critique of governmental and bureaucratic practices.

n Leo Tolstoy's story "Too Dear!", the inefficiency of the King of Monaco is portrayed
through the convoluted and costly processes he goes through in attempting to deal with a
criminal who has committed murder. The King's inefficiency is illustrated by his inability to
find a straightforward and economical solution to the problem, leading to a series of
impractical and absurd decisions. Here are the key aspects of his inefficiency:

1. Inability to Implement Execution:

o The King initially decides that the criminal should be executed. However,
Monaco is too small to have its own executioner, and hiring one from France
or Italy proves to be prohibitively expensive. The King's failure to foresee this
logistical issue and his lack of alternatives highlight the inefficiency of his
governance.
2. High Costs of Imprisonment:
o After abandoning the idea of execution due to its high cost, the King considers
sentencing the criminal to life imprisonment. However, this also turns out to
be expensive. The costs associated with maintaining a prisoner for life,
including food, guards, and facilities, place a significant financial burden on
the tiny kingdom. The King’s lack of a cost-effective prison system further
showcases his inefficiency.
3. Excessive Bureaucratic Deliberation:
o The King and his council engage in excessive deliberation and debate over
what to do with the criminal. This bureaucratic indecision leads to a prolonged
period of inaction and highlights the inefficiency of their administrative
 processes. The story humorously portrays the council’s discussions as overly
complicated and impractical.
4. Unconventional and Ridiculous Solution:
o The ultimate decision to offer the criminal a small pension to leave Monaco is
both unconventional and ridiculous. This solution, while financially cheaper,
underscores the absurdity of the situation and the King’s inability to
effectively govern. Paying a criminal to leave the country is not a sustainable
or rational approach to justice, further illustrating the inefficiency and
desperation of the King’s administration.
5. Failure to Establish a Just and Economical Penal System:
o The entire scenario reflects the King’s failure to establish a penal system that
is both just and economical. The lack of foresight in creating infrastructure for
law enforcement and punishment results in a series of ineffective and costly
measures. This inadequacy is a central critique in Tolstoy’s story, emphasizing
the shortcomings of the King's rule.

Conclusion

The inefficiency of the King of Monaco in "Too Dear!" is a satirical portrayal of bureaucratic
incompetence and the challenges of governance in a small state. The King's inability to find a
practical and economical solution to the criminal’s punishment highlights his administrative
inefficiency and the broader themes of absurdity and impracticality in bureaucratic processes.
Through this story, Tolstoy humorously critiques the inefficiencies inherent in governmental
systems that are ill-prepared and poorly managed.