Semi-Barbaric Rivalry

In “The Lady or the Tiger,” by Frank Stockton, a princess chose a terrible death for her lover instead of having him marry another. Firstly we know from the story that the princess has a nightmarish daydream about opening the door of the lady. For example the narrator states “How in her horrid dream had she gnashed her teeth, and torn her hair, when she saw his rapture and delight as he came across women.” This quote proves she does not like the lady.

The tiger emerges from the door at the end of “The Lady, or the Tiger” by Frank R. Stockton. One reason that the tiger emerges from the door is because the princess hated the lady behind the other door didn't want her lover to be with that other woman. For example, when the princess thought of how she’ll lose her lover in both ways, she thought “ would it not be better for him to die at once, and go to wait for her in the blessed regions of semibarbaric futurity”(304)? This quote showed that the princess didn't want to lose her lover to another lady that she hated so much, so the princess would rather have her lover die from the tiger and wait for her in heaven then have him fall into the hands of another lady. Another reason it is the tiger

One of the main characters in “The Lady or The Tiger” by Frank Stockhorn, was the semi-barbaric princess. From beginning, the unnamed princess had ambiguity written all over her, and it was generously displayed near the end of the story. The end started with the young man asking the princess in a secretive manner about who was behind each door, either the lady who he would get married too, or the tiger, by which who would eat him, including which door he should choose. The princess points to the right and the prince believes his lover without hesitation. He opens the right and the story is cut off there , leaving the reader with the question, who was behind the door? At that moment, we learn about the princess’s dilemma ; “She had lost him,

Throughout history, love and jealousy have been regarded as the two most powerful emotions that have played a huge role in a person’s fate or destiny. This is very true in Frank Stockton’s short story “The Lady or the Tiger?’’ Stockton’s princess character had vital information which led to her lover’s fate, however his reader was left hanging leaving one important question unanswered- what was his fate? Jealousy conquered love and was the strongest emotion which won out between the two. This led to the tiger coming out from behind the door, based on the princess’ semi barbaric nature.

All of Stockton’s themes were expertly illustrated through his writing style and his writing style communicated his ideas clearly. Coinciding with the theme of choices and consequences, the lady behind the door symbolizes innocence and happiness, as if they accused selects this door, they will be granted immediate innocence and marriage. If the door with the tiger is selected, the suspect will be devoured as he is considered guilty in this justice system, thus, the tiger symbolizes guilt and angriness. Most importantly, the arena is symbolic of life and the critical choices made during life. In the short story, the author makes the audience ponder who makes or influences our choices, as the young man relied on the princess to make the decision

. . burned in agony” (150) as her love runs to his reward of innocence, she chooses the door in which the tiger will appear, only because this jealous princess would not want her lover to be happy with another woman and have him kept to herself, dead or alive.

In the short story “The lady or the tiger”, the princess’ enviousness ultimately conquers her love for the young man, and she makes him choose the door with the tiger behind it. The text alludes to this conclusion in three ways: indications of the princess’ sadistic descent, her antipathy toward the young man’s potential lover, and the princess’ disgust of the idea of the young man being with another woman. Firstly, the princess’ barbaric background has supposedly wiped her of human empathy. Her father’s way of dealing with accused criminals is completely nefarious, but to his eyes, “Its fairness appeared perfect.” (page 2, paragraph 1).

‘The Lady or the Tiger?’ The choice had to be made because one so innocent was guilty of falling in love with a princess, causing the princess to fall for him too. This union of a worthless commoner and a semi- barbaric princess was unacceptable for the princess’s even more barbaric father, the king, as ‘never before had a subject dared to love the daughter of a king’. (pg. 34) The decision was made and the date was set, the youthful soul was sent into the arena and fate decided the rest. If he had died or if he had lived, he was lost to the princess forever. The princess chose to kill her lover and save herself the misery of having to see him share a life with another. That day in the arena, the guilty opened the tiger’s door.

I believe the princess pointed her man in the direction of the tiger because she was jealous and would rather have him killed then see him love another women. “But how much oftener had she seen him at the other door I don't think she could see him with another women when he's the love of her life, I think when you love someone you couldn't see yours self with someone else you wanna be with that person that you love the most.

The author of “The Lady or the Tiger?” mentions that, “No matter how the affair turned out, the youth would be disposed of,” which means that justice would not be served, and the youth would not be with his lover anymore. The youth and the princess had been lovers until the king learned of their love affair, and wished to punish the youth. The young man was put to a trial by tiger, a trial of the king’s own creation. The lover can not be with the princess either way the trial turns out. One way is that he is devoured by the tiger and does not live to be with her. The other way is that he gets married to the maiden behind the other door and can not be with the princess. Justice is not served because loving a person should not be a crime, and

In the story “The Lady or The Tiger” a princess is forced to watch her lover choose his destiny. The king is described as semi-barbaric because he shows compassion towards the accused. He allows them to choose their own fate by letting them pick a door, one with a hungry tiger and the other which contains a beautiful woman who he would marry on the spot. The man in the story finds himself in this situation after the king discovered he was having a love affair with his daughter. At the end of the story the princess is torn and she cannot decide if she should guide the man to life or watch him die.

The princess doesn't want her lover to be with the woman that she hates. This is why I believe it was the tiger that came out. “Often she had seen or imagined that she had seen this fair creature throwing glances or admiration upon her lover.” This is one of the main reasons I think it was the tiger. See in the story she is known to be a semi-barbaric princess.

…Without the slightest hesitation, he went to the door on the right, and opened it. Before the gate had even reached a foot off the ground the young lover, heartbroken, watched four frantic feet pacing back and forth and heard a deep, rhythmic panting. His mind frenziedly raced with dozens of thoughts: How could you do this to me? My dear lover, do you care but only for yourself? Someone must have forced her to tell me to choose the right door! What sort of fool am I to fall in love with the fairest lady in the kingdom?! What am I to do now? Run… The tiger steadily stepped out of his dark cage, allowing the afternoon sun to warm his striped fur. He gazed first at the masses seated breathlessly around the stadium

“ Only love and death will change all things “ (Gibran). A relationship that is full of love is such a beautiful thing, but having to let that go can be one of the hardest things which is what the princess in “The Lady or the Tiger” faced. On the other hand, the princess had the choice of letting her lover live and marry someone else or let him get eaten alive by a tiger. The princess wouldn’t let the man she loves walk away happily with a new women because if she can’t have him no one will. The short story, The Lady or the Tiger, written by Frank R. Stockton shows readers how madness motivated the princess to leading her darling to the door holding the tiger and overall affecting the theme of the story.

“The Lady, or The Tiger” by Mr. Frank R. Stockton has compelled readers for as long as time. This story ends with all wondering, so which is it, the delicate and fair young lady or the savage, fierce, wild-eyed tiger standing behind the door. This makes us ponder whether human heart chooses love or jealously. Within this essay, there will be proof that it is the stunning young woman behind the door. Although there is evidence proving that it is the tiger, in a sense there is more evidence stating that the elegant and barbaric princess allowed her real lover to continue living. To begin let us start with the small dwindling points that the tiger, lye behind the door.