Set a Purpose

Read to learn what the king and queen want for their clever princess.

SETTING. An Abron village in West Africa in the mid-1800s

SCENE 1. Morning. The private quarters of the KING and QUEEN. They are in the garden talking about their daughter. The PRINCESS approaches them.

PRINCESS. You sent for me Father? Mother?

QUEEN. Yes, dear. We need to talk to you about your future. It is time for us to choose a husband for you.

PRINCESS. Why do you get to choose the man I will marry?

KING. [laughs kindly] That is the way we do things in our kingdom. The parents always choose the man their daughter will marry.

PRINCESS. What if I am not happy with your choice? [dramatic] I will be so sad. I will never, ever smile. I will dry up like a flower and fade away. Would you doom your daughter to such a fate? [The QUEEN looks at her husband and sighs. The KING rubs his hands together and paces back and forth. He is thinking.]

KING. Daughter, your happiness means a lot to us. What if we let you choose your own husband?

QUEEN. [gasps] What? No girl in our kingdom has ever been allowed to make her own choice. It is the parents’ responsibility to make such an important decision. [aside, with a hint of a smile] How he spoils that girl!

PRINCESS. Father, I have always wanted to marry someone who enjoys riddles as much as I do. I could marry a man who is as good a riddler as I am. That would make me very happy.

KING. [suddenly claps his hands happily] I have an idea! We will have a contest. You will match your skills against young men throughout the kingdom. The one who wins will become your