The Mysterious Encounter: King Midas and the Stranger

The Encounter with the Stranger

In the exposition of “The Golden Touch,” Hawthorne introduces King Midas and Marygold and describes Midas’s obsession with gold. The inciting incident, or the point that triggers the conflict, takes place when Midas meets the stranger. Describe King Midas’s encounter with the stranger. How does it create a mood or feeling of mystery? Then, explain how Midas’s encounter with the stranger sets the plot in motion.

Question:

How does King Midas's encounter with the stranger create a mood or feeling of mystery?

Answer:

He was excited by the company and got some of his stuff stolen by the man.

Explanation:

Final answer:

In “The Golden Touch,” King Midas’s meeting with the mysterious stranger marks the inciting incident of the story, setting the main conflict into motion and introducing the magical element of the narrative. This moment establishes a mood of mystery and foreshadows the tragic consequences of Midas’s wish, engaging readers and propelling the plot forward as he deals with the outcomes of his greed.

Explanation:

In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Golden Touch,” King Midas’s encounter with the stranger serves as the inciting incident that sets the main conflict in motion, where Midas wishes for the ability to turn everything he touches into gold. This encounter creates a mood of mystery due to the sudden appearance of a stranger who has the power to grant such a supernatural ability. The mood amplifies the readers' curiosity and foreshadows the unintended consequences of Midas's wish. When the wish is granted, it leads to disastrous results, fundamentally propelling the story forward as Midas comes to terms with the consequences of his greed.

The stranger's willingness to grant such a fantastic wish immediately adds to the mystery and sets the mood for the rest of the tale. It engages readers by activating their imagination, making them wonder about the origins and intentions of this mysterious figure. The encounter propels the plot by introducing the magical elements that will cause the king’s undoing, creating a rising action that will eventually lead to the climax where Midas must face the repercussions of his choices.