TOO DEAR- LEO TOLSTOY

Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each. (2 Marks Questions)

1. Where is the kingdom of Monaco located in “Too Dear”?

Answer: Near the borders of France and Italy, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.

• How many inhabitants does the kingdom of Monaco have, and what would happen if all the land were divided among them?

Answer: Monaco has about seven thousand inhabitants. If all the land were divided, there would not be an acre for each inhabitant.

• What are the main sources of revenue for the Prince of Monaco, as mentioned in “Too Dear”?

Answer: The main sources of revenue for the Prince of Monaco are taxes on tobacco, wine, and spirits, and income from a gaming house where people play roulette.

• Why did some German Sovereigns stop operating gaming houses in “Too Dear”?

Answer: The German Sovereigns stopped operating gaming houses because they caused significant harm, including people risking and losing money they did not own, leading to extreme despair and suicides.

• What difficulties did the Prince of Monaco face when trying to carry out the death sentence for the criminal?

Answer: The Prince faced difficulties because Monaco lacked a guillotine and an executioner. Attempts to procure these from France and Italy were deemed too costly.

• How did the cost of executing the criminal compare to the overall population’s financial burden, and how did this influence the prince’s decision?

Answer: The cost of executing the criminal was more than two francs per head of the population, which the prince considered too high. This led to the decision to alter the sentence to imprisonment for life instead.

• What challenges did the Prince encounter with the imprisonment of the criminal, and how did this affect the decision-making process?

Answer: The challenges included the cost of maintaining the prisoner and the lack of a suitable prison. This led to the decision to eventually offer the prisoner a pension to encourage him to leave the kingdom.

• How did the criminal react to the offer of a pension and the suggestion to leave Monaco?

Answer: The criminal agreed to leave Monaco on the condition that his pension would be paid regularly. He eventually settled just across the border, lived comfortably, and continued to visit Monaco for his pension.

• What does “Too Dear” suggest about the nature of governance and the impact of economic considerations on legal and ethical decisions in Monaco?

Answer: The Too Dear suggests that economic considerations heavily influence governance decisions in Monaco, leading to practical but morally questionable solutions. The Prince’s decisions were driven by financial constraints rather than solely by justice or ethical concerns.

1. How does the story “Too Dear” reflect on the moral implications of using gambling as a major source of revenue for a government?

Answer: The story “Too Dear” reflects that using gambling as a major source of revenue raises moral concerns, as it is recognized as a “dirty business” with harmful social consequences. The Prince is aware of the immorality but continues to profit from it due to financial necessity.

1. Why is Monaco described as a “tiny little kingdom” in “Too Dear”?

Answer: Monaco is described as a “tiny little kingdom” because it has a very small population of about seven thousand people and very little land.

1. How does the Prince of Monaco make money from the gaming house, and why is this important for him?

Answer: The Prince makes money from the gaming house because he gets a percentage of the money that people gamble. This is important for him because it helps cover the costs of running the kingdom, including paying his courtiers and officials.

1. What problem did the Prince face when trying to carry out the death sentence, and how did he try to solve it?

Answer: The problem was that Monaco did not have a guillotine or an executioner. The Prince tried to solve it by asking France and Italy for help, but both options were too expensive, so he eventually decided to change the sentence to imprisonment for life.

1. Why did the Prince decide to change the criminal’s sentence from death to life imprisonment?

Answer: The Prince decided to change the sentence because the cost of executing the criminal was too high. He thought that life imprisonment would be cheaper and more manageable.

1. How did the criminal feel about being offered a pension and told to leave Monaco?

Answer: The criminal felt unhappy and unfairly treated. He didn’t want to leave because he had no place to go and felt that his life had been ruined by the way he had been treated.

1. What did the Prince and his ministers discover about the cost of keeping the criminal in prison?

Answer: They discovered that it was very expensive to keep the criminal in prison, costing more than 600 francs per year, and they were worried about the high cost over a long period.

1. What was the final decision regarding the criminal’s situation, and what did it involve?

Answer: The final decision was to offer the criminal a pension of 600 francs to leave Monaco. This was a cheaper option than continuing his imprisonment.

1. What did the criminal do after he left Monaco with his pension?

Answer: After leaving Monaco, the criminal bought land, started market-gardening, and lived comfortably. He also continued to collect his pension and use it for gambling.

1. Why did the Prince of Monaco have to make tough financial decisions about justice and imprisonment?

Answer: The Prince had to make tough financial decisions because Monaco was a small kingdom with limited resources. He needed to manage his budget carefully and find the most cost-effective solutions for running the kingdom and dealing with legal matters.

• What lesson can we learn from “Too Dear” about how governments might handle difficult situations?

Answer: The lesson from “Too Dear” is that governments might face difficult financial decisions that lead them to make compromises, even if it means making morally questionable choices. The story shows the impact of economic constraints on decision-making.

• Where is the kingdom of Monaco located, and how many people live there?

Answer: The kingdom of Monaco is located near the borders of France and Italy, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Only about 7,000 people live there.

• What was the special way the Prince of Monaco made money for his kingdom?

Answer: The Prince made money by allowing a gambling house (where people played roulette) to operate in Monaco. The Prince received a percentage of the money people lost while gambling.

• What crime did the man in “Too Dear” commit, and what was his punishment?

Answer: The man committed a murder, and his original punishment was to have his head cut off (execution).

• Why did the Prince and his ministers have trouble carrying out the execution?

Answer: They had trouble because Monaco didn’t have a guillotine or an executioner. It was too expensive to borrow one from France or Italy.

• What solution did the Prince and his ministers finally decide on instead of executing the criminal?

Answer: They decided to change the criminal’s sentence from execution to life imprisonment because it was cheaper.

• Why didn’t the prisoner try to escape when the guard was dismissed?

Answer: The prisoner didn’t escape because he had nowhere to go. He said his character was ruined, he didn’t know how to work anymore, and no one would accept him.

• How did the story “Too Dear” end? What happened to the criminal?

Answer: The Prince and his ministers decided to pay the criminal a pension of 600 francs a year to leave the kingdom. The criminal agreed, moved just outside Monaco, and started a peaceful life as a market gardener.

• Do you think it was fair for the Prince to offer the criminal a pension? Why or why not?

Answer: Answers will vary. One possible answer: It might seem unfair, but since they didn’t want to spend more money on keeping him in prison or executing him, the pension was a cheaper way to solve the problem.

• Why do you think none of the soldiers wanted to cut off the prisoner’s head?

Answer: The soldiers didn’t want to do it because they weren’t trained to execute people. They only knew how to fight in war, not to carry out executions.

• What lesson do you think Leo Tolstoy wanted readers to learn from “Too Dear”?

Answer: One possible lesson is that trying to save money at all costs can lead to strange and sometimes unfair solutions. It also shows how absurd and complicated it can be for a small kingdom to carry out justice.

• What kind of place is Monaco, and how many people live there?

Answer: Monaco is a tiny kingdom near France and Italy, and about 7,000 people live there.

• What special way does the Prince of Monaco make money for his kingdom?

Answer: The Prince makes money through a gambling house where people play roulette, and he gets a percentage of the money they lose.

• What crime did the man in “Too Dear” commit? What was the punishment given to the criminal?

Answer: The man committed murder. The criminal was sentenced to have his head cut off (execution by guillotine).

• Why couldn’t the Prince carry out the punishment of cutting off the criminal’s head?

Answer: The Prince couldn’t carry out the punishment because Monaco didn’t have a guillotine or an executioner, and it was too expensive to borrow one.

• What were some of the taxes in Monaco mentioned in “Too Dear”?

Answer: The taxes in Monaco mentioned in “Too Dear” included a tax on tobacco, wine, spirits, and a poll-tax.

• What did the Prince and his ministers decide to do instead of executing the criminal?

Answer: They decided to change the sentence to life imprisonment because it was cheaper than execution.

• How did the criminal get his food after the guard was dismissed?

Answer: The criminal went to the Prince’s kitchen to get his own food after the guard was dismissed.

• Why didn’t the criminal leave the prison when there was no guard?

Answer: The criminal didn’t leave because he had nowhere to go and said his reputation was ruined.

• What was the final decision the Prince made about what to do with the criminal? Where did the criminal go after he received his pension?

Answer: The final decision was to offer the criminal a pension of 600 francs per year to leave the kingdom. The criminal moved just across the border and started a peaceful life as a market gardener.

• What did the criminal do with some of his pension money after moving out of the kingdom?

Answer: The criminal sometimes went to the gaming tables and staked two or three francs, occasionally winning or losing.

1. Answer the following questions in about 60 words each (3 Marks)
2. What is Monaco like, and how does the Prince make money for his kingdom?

Answer: Monaco is a tiny kingdom with only about 7,000 people, located near France and Italy. The Prince makes money through taxes and a gambling house, where people come to play roulette. The Prince gets a percentage of the money from the gambling, which helps him run the kingdom and pay his officials.

• What was the problem with executing the criminal, and how did the Prince try to solve it?

Answer: The problem was that Monaco didn’t have a guillotine or an executioner, and borrowing one from France or Italy was too expensive. The Prince and his ministers tried to find a cheaper solution by asking soldiers to do it, but none were willing. Eventually, they decided to change the punishment to life imprisonment.

• Why did the criminal stay in the prison even when there was no guard to watch him?

Answer: The criminal stayed in the prison because he had nowhere to go. His reputation was ruined because of his crime, and he believed no one would accept him. He also felt that after being in prison for so long, he had gotten out of the habit of working and didn’t know how to start a new life.

• How did the Prince finally solve the problem with the criminal?

Answer: The Prince and his ministers decided to offer the criminal a yearly pension of 600 francs to leave Monaco. The criminal agreed to this, moved just across the border, and started a new life as a market gardener. This solution was cheaper than keeping him in prison, and the Prince was happy with the outcome.

• What lesson do you think the Prince learned from this situation?

Answer: The Prince likely learned that sometimes simple problems can become complicated if you try to avoid spending money. In the end, paying the criminal a pension was the easiest and cheapest solution. The story shows that trying to save too much money upfront can lead to unexpected and costly problems later on.

• Where is Monaco, and how many people live there?

Answer: Monaco is a small kingdom located near the borders of France and Italy, on the Mediterranean Sea. The entire population is about 7,000 people, making it much smaller than most other countries. Despite its tiny size, Monaco has a real Prince, a palace, and even a small army of 60 soldiers.

• What taxes are collected in Monaco, and why does the Prince rely on a gambling house?

Answer: The Prince of Monaco collects taxes on tobacco, wine, spirits, and a poll-tax. However, because the kingdom is so small, these taxes don’t raise enough money to run the kingdom. That’s why the Prince relies on the profits from a gambling house, where people lose money and the Prince gets a share.

• What crime did the man commit, and what was his original punishment?

Answer: The man in the story committed murder, which was a very serious crime in Monaco. The court decided that the punishment should be execution by having his head cut off, as the law directed. However, since Monaco didn’t have the equipment or an executioner, they couldn’t carry out the punishment right away.

• Why did the Prince change the criminal’s punishment from execution to life imprisonment?

Answer: The Prince changed the punishment because borrowing a guillotine and hiring an executioner was too expensive. It would cost 16,000 francs from France or 12,000 francs from Italy, which was more than the Prince was willing to pay. So, they decided that keeping the criminal in prison for life would be a cheaper solution.

1. How did the criminal eventually leave Monaco, and what did he do afterward?

Answer: The Prince and his ministers offered the criminal a yearly pension of 600 francs to leave Monaco because keeping him in prison was also too expensive. The criminal agreed, moved just across the border, and started a new life as a market gardener. He collected his pension regularly and lived peacefully.

1. Why did the Prince of Monaco rely on the gambling house for money?

Answer: The Prince relied on the gambling house for money because Monaco is a tiny kingdom with only 7,000 people, and the taxes collected on tobacco, wine, and a poll-tax weren’t enough to support the kingdom’s expenses. The gambling house provided a steady income through the percentage the Prince received from players’ losses.

1. What challenges did the Prince face in trying to execute the criminal?

Answer: The Prince faced the challenge of not having a guillotine or an executioner in Monaco. Borrowing one from France or Italy was too expensive, costing thousands of francs, which the Prince found unreasonable. Even trying to get soldiers to do the job failed because none of them were trained or willing to carry out the execution.

1. Why did the criminal refuse to leave the prison even after the guard was dismissed?

Answer: The criminal refused to leave the prison because he felt he had nowhere to go. His reputation was ruined, and he believed no one would accept him. He also admitted that after being in prison for so long, he had lost the habit of working and didn’t know how to start a new life on his own.

1. How did the Prince resolve the problem with the criminal in the end?

Answer: In the end, the Prince resolved the problem by offering the criminal a yearly pension of 600 francs to leave Monaco. This was a cheaper solution than keeping him in prison. The criminal

agreed, moved across the border, and lived a quiet life as a market gardener, collecting his pension regularly and staying out of trouble.

1. What does the story suggest about the challenges of ruling a small kingdom like Monaco?

Answer: The story highlights that ruling a small kingdom like Monaco presents unique challenges, such as limited resources and the high cost of handling even basic legal matters. The Prince had to find creative and cost-effective solutions to problems like punishing the criminal, which larger, wealthier countries might not face to the same degree.

1. Why do you think the Prince chose to offer the criminal a pension instead of keeping him in prison?

Answer: The Prince offered the criminal a pension because it was cheaper. Keeping the criminal in prison was costing more than 600 francs a year, and the Prince realized that paying the criminal to leave would save money in the long run. The decision reflects the Prince’s focus on finding a cost- effective solution rather than one based on justice.

1. How did the Prince’s decision-making show the difficulty of balancing justice and money?

Answer: The Prince’s decision-making showed that balancing justice and money can be difficult in a small kingdom with limited resources. Initially, justice demanded execution, but the cost was too high. The Prince had to choose between expensive justice and cheaper alternatives, ultimately compromising by offering a pension, which saved money but seemed like an unusual solution for justice.

1. If you were one of the ministers, how would you have handled the situation differently?

Answer: If I were a minister, I might have suggested using community service as an alternative punishment. This way, the criminal could work off his crime, and the kingdom would save money. This option would balance the need for justice with the practical financial concerns of the Prince, ensuring the criminal contributed to society instead of simply being paid to leave.

1. Why do you think none of the soldiers wanted to carry out the execution, even though they were trained to fight?

Answer: The soldiers likely didn’t want to carry out the execution because executing someone is very different from fighting in a war. War is about defending the kingdom or fighting enemies, while executing someone for a crime feels more personal and morally difficult. It’s not something they were trained for, so they didn’t feel comfortable doing it.

• What does the criminal’s behaviour after being offered the pension tell you about his character?

Answer: The criminal’s behaviour shows that he was practical and willing to adapt to his situation. Though he could have tried to escape, he realized that staying in Monaco with no prospects wasn’t a good option. When offered the pension, he agreed and used the money to start a new life, showing that he was realistic and accepted the outcome.

• Why do you think the Prince’s ministers considered multiple options before deciding on a solution for the criminal?

Answer: The ministers considered multiple options because they had to find a solution that balanced justice with the kingdom’s financial limitations. They initially explored execution, but it was too costly. Life imprisonment was cheaper, but still expensive over time. By carefully considering all possibilities, they eventually chose a pension, which was the most affordable and practical choice.

• How does the story reflect the difficulty of making ethical decisions when money is involved?

Answer: The story shows that money can complicate ethical decisions. The Prince wanted justice but didn’t want to spend too much. This led him to make a choice—offering the criminal a pension—that may not seem fair or ethical but was financially reasonable. The struggle to balance justice with financial constraints highlights the complexity of leadership.

• Do you think the Prince’s final decision to pay the criminal a pension was the best choice? Why or why not?

Answer: The Prince’s decision was likely the best choice for his situation. It solved the problem cheaply and efficiently, without causing more expense or public outrage. However, it may seem unfair since the criminal benefited from his crime. While not perfect, it was practical given Monaco’s small size and limited resources, making it a reasonable solution.

• How might the criminal’s refusal to leave the prison without help reflect his experience in prison and his view of society?

Answer: The criminal’s refusal to leave the prison shows that he felt isolated and disconnected from society. Prison likely made him feel unfit for normal life, and with no one willing to accept him after his crime, he had nowhere to go. His experience in prison made him dependent, showing how long-term imprisonment can affect someone’s ability to reintegrate into society.

• What does this story teach us about the challenges small countries face when it comes to law enforcement and justice?

Answer: The story highlights that small countries, like Monaco, may lack the resources for standard law enforcement, such as carrying out executions or maintaining prisons. These limitations force leaders to find creative, often unconventional solutions. It shows that justice in small countries may be influenced more by economic constraints than in larger nations with more resources.

Answer the following questions in about 100 words each (4 Marks)

1. Where is the kingdom of Monaco, and what is its population?

Answer: Monaco is a small kingdom located on the Mediterranean coast, near the borders of France and Italy. It has a population of around 7,000 people. Despite its tiny size, Monaco is an independent country with a Prince who governs it. The kingdom’s small population and limited land mean that it does not have large resources like other countries. This plays a significant role in the decisions the Prince makes, especially regarding finances and justice. Monaco is famous for its wealth and the casino, which attracts many visitors and generates revenue for the kingdom.

• What was the crime committed in the story, and what was the criminal’s original punishment?

Answer: In the story, the criminal committed murder, a serious crime in Monaco. The court sentenced him to execution by guillotine. However, this punishment was problematic because Monaco didn’t have the equipment or an executioner. The Prince tried to arrange for the execution by contacting France and Italy, but the costs were too high. Because of this, the Prince and his ministers decided to change the criminal’s sentence from execution to life imprisonment, which they initially thought would be more affordable for the small kingdom’s limited resources.

• Why did the Prince decide to offer the criminal a pension, and how much did he agree to pay?

Answer: The Prince decided to offer the criminal a pension because keeping him in prison was too expensive. The cost of his food and the salary of the guard added up to more than 600 francs per year, which was a burden on Monaco’s limited budget. The Prince and his ministers realized that offering the criminal money to leave would be cheaper than keeping him imprisoned. The Prince offered the criminal an annual pension of 600 francs, and the criminal agreed to leave the kingdom and settle just across the border, where he started a new life.

• How did the criminal respond to being offered a pension, and what did he do afterward?

Answer: The criminal agreed to the Prince’s offer of a pension, as he saw it as a way to secure his future. After receiving one-third of his pension in advance, he left Monaco and moved just across the border to a neighbouring town. There, he bought a small piece of land and became a market gardener. He lived peacefully, regularly collecting his pension and sometimes visiting the gambling house. This arrangement allowed him to start a new life while still receiving financial support from Monaco, solving the problem for both the kingdom and the criminal.

• What taxes were collected in Monaco, and why were they not enough to sustain the kingdom?

Answer: In Monaco, taxes were collected on tobacco, wine, spirits, and a poll-tax. However, because the kingdom had such a small population of only 7,000 people, the revenue from these taxes was not enough to sustain the Prince’s government, pay officials, and maintain the kingdom. To make up for this shortfall, the Prince relied heavily on the income from a gambling house, where visitors lost money at the roulette tables. The casino provided a significant source of revenue for Monaco, allowing the Prince to cover the kingdom’s expenses that taxes alone couldn’t support.

• Why did the Prince of Monaco decide not to execute the criminal?

Answer: The Prince of Monaco decided not to execute the criminal because it was too expensive. Monaco didn’t have a guillotine or an executioner, so the Prince asked France and Italy for help. France wanted 16,000 francs, and Italy asked for 12,000 francs. The Prince thought this cost was

too high for one criminal, especially for such a small kingdom. Instead of spending the money, he searched for cheaper alternatives and eventually changed the criminal’s sentence to life imprisonment to avoid the large expense of an execution.

• What difficulties did the Prince face in keeping the criminal in prison, and how did he solve them?

Answer: The Prince faced financial difficulties in keeping the criminal in prison because the cost of his food and the salary of the prison guard amounted to more than 600 francs per year. As Monaco was a small kingdom with limited funds, these expenses were significant. Eventually, the Prince decided that continuing to pay for the prisoner’s upkeep was not sustainable. The final solution was to offer the criminal a yearly pension of 600 francs to leave the country. The criminal accepted this offer and moved to a nearby place, solving the problem at a lower cost.

• Why did the criminal refuse to leave the prison when there was no guard, and what does this show about his situation?

Answer: The criminal refused to leave the prison, even when there was no guard, because he felt he had nowhere to go and that his reputation was ruined. He believed that no one would accept him back into society after his crime, and he had become used to being taken care of in prison. This shows that the criminal had become dependent on the prison system and feared living independently. His reluctance to leave indicates how long-term imprisonment can affect a person’s sense of self-worth and ability to reintegrate into society.

• How did the Prince balance justice and cost in dealing with the criminal?

Answer: The Prince balanced justice and cost by finding a solution that saved money while still addressing the criminal’s punishment. Although the criminal’s initial sentence was execution, the high cost of carrying out this punishment led the Prince to switch to life imprisonment. When imprisonment became too expensive due to ongoing costs, the Prince finally settled on offering the criminal a pension to leave Monaco. While this was an unconventional solution, it was a practical one that ensured justice was served in a way that the kingdom could afford, reflecting the Prince’s priority of managing costs efficiently.

1. What does the story suggest about the challenges of running a small kingdom like Monaco?

Answer: The story suggests that running a small kingdom like Monaco comes with unique financial and practical challenges. The Prince’s inability to afford standard forms of justice, like execution or long-term imprisonment, highlights the limitations of a tiny, resource-limited kingdom. Every decision, even in matters of crime and punishment, had to be carefully weighed against the costs. The Prince’s final solution—offering the criminal a pension—shows that sometimes, small states must find creative and unconventional ways to handle problems that larger countries might solve through more traditional methods. Managing limited resources was a constant concern for the Prince.

1. Why did the Prince of Monaco face difficulties in executing the criminal, and what alternatives did he consider?

Answer: The Prince faced difficulties because Monaco didn’t have a guillotine or an executioner, and borrowing one from France or Italy was too expensive. The cost for an execution was more than the Prince was willing to pay, given Monaco’s small population and limited budget. The Prince first considered getting a soldier to perform the execution, but no one was willing. Eventually, he

changed the sentence to life imprisonment. However, keeping the criminal in prison also became too expensive, leading the Prince to offer the criminal a pension to leave the kingdom.

1. How does the criminal’s behaviour after the guard was dismissed show his view of his situation?

Answer: The criminal’s behaviour after the guard was dismissed shows that he felt trapped by his circumstances. Even though there was no one preventing him from escaping, he chose to stay in the prison because he felt he had nowhere else to go. His crime had ruined his reputation, and he believed he wouldn’t be accepted by society. Additionally, after being in prison for so long, he had become dependent on the system and lost his ability to work or live independently. His behaviour reflects a sense of resignation to his fate and fear of the unknown outside the prison.

1. What was the final solution to the problem of the criminal, and why did the Prince choose this option?

Answer: The final solution to the problem was to offer the criminal a yearly pension of 600 francs to leave Monaco. The Prince chose this option because it was the cheapest and most practical solution. The costs of execution or keeping the criminal in prison were too high, especially for a small kingdom like Monaco. By giving the criminal a pension, the Prince saved money and rid the kingdom of the problem without causing public outrage. It was a compromise between justice and financial practicality, ensuring that the criminal would not stay in Monaco without creating a large financial burden.

1. What does the Prince’s decision-making process reveal about his priorities as a ruler?

Answer: The Prince’s decision-making process reveals that his top priority as a ruler was the financial well-being of his kingdom. Faced with limited resources, he had to make choices that balanced justice with the need to save money. He initially considered execution, but when the costs were too high, he opted for life imprisonment. When even that proved too expensive, he decided to offer the criminal a pension. His approach shows that he prioritized practical solutions over strict justice, focusing on what would benefit Monaco financially rather than adhering strictly to traditional methods of punishment.

1. How does the story of the criminal in “Too Dear!” highlight the challenges of balancing justice and economics?

Answer: The story highlights that balancing justice and economics can be challenging, especially in small or resource-limited places like Monaco. The Prince faced a dilemma: justice required punishment for the criminal, but traditional methods, like execution or imprisonment, were too expensive. This forced the Prince to find a more cost-effective solution by offering the criminal a pension. The story shows that justice isn’t always straightforward when financial constraints are involved. Leaders must sometimes prioritize economic realities over ideal solutions, leading to compromises that may seem unusual or unfair but are necessary for the greater good.

1. Why do you think the Prince’s ministers decided to offer the criminal a pension instead of finding another punishment?

Answer: The ministers offered the criminal a pension because other options were either too expensive or impractical. Executing the criminal was costly because Monaco didn’t have a guillotine or executioner, and borrowing one would cost thousands of francs. Keeping him in prison was also expensive, as the kingdom had to pay for his food and a guard. The pension was a cheaper

alternative, allowing the criminal to leave the country peacefully. This decision reflected their need to balance justice with the financial constraints of running a small kingdom like Monaco.

1. What does the Prince’s approach to dealing with the criminal tell us about the difficulties of governing a small kingdom?

Answer: The Prince’s approach shows that governing a small kingdom comes with unique challenges, particularly regarding resources and justice. Unlike larger countries, Monaco couldn’t afford the usual means of punishing criminals, such as executions or long-term imprisonment. The Prince had to find a solution that fit the limited budget while maintaining order. This dilemma reveals that, in small states, leaders must be creative and often prioritize financial efficiency over traditional forms of justice. It also demonstrates how governing small countries requires balancing moral decisions with practical economic considerations.

1. Do you think the criminal’s refusal to leave the prison without support is a reflection of his character or his circumstances? Why?

Answer: The criminal’s refusal to leave without support is more a reflection of his circumstances than his character. After being sentenced to life imprisonment, he became dependent on the prison system. His crime and imprisonment damaged his reputation, leaving him without a home or job opportunities. Over time, he lost the will to work or integrate back into society. His dependency on the system shows how long-term imprisonment can affect a person’s confidence and ability to start fresh. His refusal to leave illustrates the difficulty of reintegrating into society after being institutionalized for a long period.

1. What lessons can we learn about justice from the Prince’s handling of the criminal’s punishment?

Answer: The Prince’s handling of the criminal’s punishment teaches us that justice is not always straightforward and can be influenced by economic and practical considerations. While traditional justice would have meant execution or long-term imprisonment, these options were financially unfeasible in Monaco. The Prince had to prioritize cost-effectiveness, showing that justice systems, especially in small countries, may need to adapt to their circumstances. The story also raises questions about fairness—while the criminal received a pension for his crime, this solution benefited the kingdom financially. Ultimately, justice must balance fairness, practicality, and the resources available.

• In what ways did the criminal’s final decision to accept a pension and leave reflect his ability to adapt to new circumstances?

Answer: The criminal’s decision to accept the pension and leave Monaco demonstrates his adaptability and practical thinking. Initially, he refused to leave the prison because he had nowhere to go, and his life had been shaped by the prison routine. However, when offered a pension, he realized this was an opportunity to secure his future. Instead of resisting or clinging to his past, he accepted the change and relocated to a nearby area where he could live peacefully. This adaptability shows that, despite his circumstances, he was able to make the best of the situation, accepting a new role in life.