The King and I: A Fight to Rule ROUGH DRAFT Rodger and Hammerstein's The King and I has amazed audiences for more than fifty years. With elaborate sets and captivating characters, the source of success seems to be evident. However, hidden in Hammerstein's romantic script lies the true foundation; an eternal historical model. The King and I uses vibrant colors to mask the chronicle of government intervention and Westernization not only in Siam but in many countries. Anna Leonownes, King Mongkut, and Prince Chualongkorn represent a caustic model of government intervention throughout history. In the first scene of The King and I the audience is introduced to Anna, an English teacher traveling in 19th century Siam (currently Thailand). King Mongkut called on Anna to educate her children in the civilized ways of the Western world. While the king struggles to accept Anna's teachings, his eldest son, Prince Chulalongkorn, embraces them. Throughout the script Anna and the king fight for superiority until the king falls ill and dies. From his deathbed, the King watches the Prince come onto the bridge and make his first proclamation; the subjects will not prostrate themselves at the king's feet, but will stand upright and proud, like Anna (Galente and Spampinato 141-4). The Prince signifies a transfer of power from a weaker country to a dominant country; in this case from Siam to imperial England. Initially skeptical of Anna's teachings, the prince questions not only the existence of snow, but also Siam's tiny size compared to England (Hammerstein). By approaching Anna with a cautious attitude, the prince demonstrates Siam's distrust of Western teachings. The prince soon abandons his reservations and the strict tradition his father......middle of paper......stro fought to overthrow (Markel 45). Castro began his reign by nationalizing U.S.-owned utility companies and seizing U.S.-owned property, banks, and businesses. When a U.S. embargo devastated the Cuban economy, Castro looked to other countries for help, such as the Soviet Union and Eastern European allies (Markel 87-9). Castro fought to gain control over Cuba and to limit outside influence on his country, just as The King and I fought to preserve traditional Siam. Regardless of the impact he had on the Cuban people, Castro succeeded. It's easy to miss the historical relevance of The King and I, but upon closer examination audiences will discover that the musical is not meant for mere entertainment. The Prince, Anne, and the King all represent a pattern that warns against government intervention and the harm, and progress, and cross-border interference it can cause..