Essay on “The Lady or the Tiger?” by Frank R. Stockton

Of the Writer and the Story

    The story “The Lady or the Tiger?” is from Frank R. Stockton, a 19th c. American writer. It is meant for children but its end is for mature audience, especially for those who are good at understanding women’s heart.  It is about a semi-barbaric king.  His ideas are polished –“Good should be rewarded and Evil should be punished.”  But his way of  justice to the accused is barbaric -with a tiger to tear or a lady to reward.

The Vast Arena as the Trial Place

The king had a built a vast arena that served to entertain the public and to administer justice.  The accused would be brought to this amphitheatre for trial.  He would have two choices. If he opened one door, a ferocious hungry tiger would jump upon him and tear him into pieces for his crime.  If he opened the other door, a beautiful lady would come out and marry him for his innocence.  The King’s judgement looks fair because it arises from impartial and incorruptible chance. 

King's Daughter and her Lover on Trial

The king had a daughter who loved a young handsome courtier.  He came to know the love affair and put the lover on Trial.  King's daughter bribed and found the secret -which door carried the Tiger and which one, the most beautiful lady.  But she was in a dilemma.  Whatever the door is opened, she would be the loser.  Moreover she was hateful and jealous of the lady in cage. On the appointed day, the lover looked for a signal from his sweetheart.  King's daughter showed the right door secretly and the lover opened it. 

The Mysterious End
It is an open-ended story and the writer did not tell who came out -the Lady or the Tiger? We do not know what happened to the handsome young man. Life is mysterious and we do not know what will happen next.  So is the end of the Story.  The writer asks us to be in the heart of the hot-blooded, semi barbaric princess and then find the answer. Which is powerful – her love, or her jealousy, or her semibarbarism? Who is clever – the king, or the princess, or the Writer, or the reader? Everything is open secret.

Questions and Answers:
1.Describe the semi-barbaric king.

The king's ideas are polished –“Good should be rewarded and Evil should be punished.”  But his way of  justice to the accused is barbaric -with a tiger to tear or,  a lady to reward. He uses his power to turn his fancies into facts.

2.How did he refine and culture the minds of his subjects? (Or) What was the choice given to the person on Trial? (Or) What happened if he opens the door having a lady behind?

The accused would have two choices. If he opened one door, a ferocious hungry tiger would jump upon him and tear him into pieces for his crime.  If he opened the other door, a beautiful lady would come out and marry him for his innocence.

3.Comment on the perfect fairness of the king's method of administering justice.

It is really not “perfect fairness” though it looks so. If his method is perfect, how was the princess able to find the secret by bribing? If he is really fair in justice, why doesn’t he put the princess in the other door in stead of another lady?

4.What happened when the king discovered his daughter's love affair? (Or) How did the audience react to the sight of the young man?

The king came to know the love affair and put the lover on Trial.  People assembled in great number and were much interested to know what would happen.  They had never seen such a trial before.

5.Describe the plight of the princess.

The princess was in a dilemma.  Whatever the door is opened, she would be the loser.  Her lover would be killed or marry another lady.   Moreover she was hateful and jealous of the lady in cage.

6.How did the young man know which door to choose?

On the appointed day, the lover looked for a signal from his sweetheart.  King's daughter showed the right door secretly and the lover opened it. 

7.What happened to the handsome young man at the end?

The writer did not tell who came out -the Lady or the Tiger. He asks us to be in the heart of the hot-blooded, semi barbaric princess and then find the answer. So the tiger might have killed the young man.