The story is about the jester Hop-Frog, who has to drink wine against his will because the king orders him to do so. If his lover stands up for him, the king roughly pushes her aside. Hop-Frog’s revenge is gruesome. The king stages a masked ball and the jester suggests that he and his seven counsellors should dress up as orang-utans to scare the guests. During the act Hop-Frog hooks the men to the chandelier, sets them on fire and shouts: ‘I see a great king and his counsellors, a king who dares to hit a defenceless girl. My name is Hop-Frog the jester and this is my final jest.’ And with his lover he leaves the palace forever.

Press A for more information on the Edgar Allen Poe story, or press B for more information on the work by Ensor.

AB

Back to start