Randy Suits

Anna Leonowens and the King of Thailand

Kochana Eve,

We both enjoyed the musical ‘The King and I’ so much that I have researched the backgrounds of the real charachters.I King Mongkut, the King of Thailand, was 57 years old when he came to the throne in 1850. At the time, European nations and American traders were striving for dominance in Asia. He wanted to keep Thailand an independent nation and wisely decided to familiarize his heirs, wives and harem with western ways. Anna Leonowens was running a small nursery school in Singapore and King Mongkut extended an invitation to her to teach his young son and family. When she was hired by the king, she traveled to Bangkok and brought her 5 year old son. Anna was acquainted with Asian customs and culture so she was able to overcome the shock and disbelief of crude, disrespectful, impolite and lewd behavior of western practices. Her primary pupil was Prince Chulalongkorn, the son of King Mongkut. She continued in service to the king until his death in 1868 when she returned to England and young Prince Chulalongkorn became king.

Parents all across the globe, throughout all generations have made good decisions for their children. The king knew that a degree of culture shock would rumble through the palace and passive resistance would result, but his vision for the future brought about the preparation for his son and future generations to prosper and remain independent. Thailand is independent today though it is a small Asian country. Anna Leonewens was an ordinary widow who used her good fortune to educate her daughter Avis in an English school to give her the social advantage of a prestigious British education and placed her son in an Irish school with her earnings. We see that both the rich and powerful King of Thailand and the simple teacher Anna provided the best they could for their families. Jesus asked, “Which of you fathers, if his son asks a fish, will he give him a snake? Or if he asks for an egg will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” I love you my Kochana, but the best gift your man can give you pales in significance to those good gifts our God Most High gives you and us but your husband will do his best to give you good gifts all the days of our life together.

God is good and we are blessed, Let’s watch another musical, Kochany