The King and I The King and I has a long, intricate history. The events from the movie actually took place in mid-19th century Siam, during which time King Mongkut (Rama IV) was in the process of modernizing his country in an attempt to avoid annexation by the British. This process included the integration of western science, so the king sent for a British school teacher, Anna Leonowens, to educate his children. In 1944, Margaret Landon published Anna and the King of Siam, which she based off of Anna's memoirs. Twelve years later, Margaret's book would inspire Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II to co-write the 1956 musical, The King and I. The musical was a thriving success, and in 1971, a television series called Anna and the King aired …show more content…
There, she speaks to the king regarding his promise to provide her with a separate residence, but he refuses to honor their agreement. She decides to return to the ship immediately, but her resolution is weakened after meeting the children whom she is to teach. Meanwhile, in the palace gardens, crown prince Chulalongkorn comes upon a Burmese servant girl, Tuptim, who has recently been given to the king as a gift. The two quickly develop a relationship, and the prince gifts her the royal pendant as a sign of his love for her. But unknown to them, Lady Thiang sees them from Anna's balcony. She is horrified at the insult to tradition, but Anna soothes her and for the moment, the matter is forgotten. Later, as their first lesson, Anna takes the children outside the royal palace to show them the way in which the Siamese people live. However, the Kralahome finds out and tells the king of the excursion. The king then angrily confronts Anna. It has long been forbidden for the royal children to go outside the palace …show more content…
The event goes well until the Kralahome, who has learned of the prince's secret love, prods the king to have his son display the royal pendant to their visiting guests. When the king finds that the prince does not have the pendant, he demands to know who Chulalongkorn has given it to. At that moment, two guards enter the dining room with Tuptim, who is wearing the royal pendant around her neck. Outraged at the dishonor, the king orders her to be whipped to death. However, he cannot hurt the girl under Anna's gaze. Instead, he orders her to be sent back to Burma, where she will be killed for so dishonoring her