The Lady or the Tiger

Any good work in literature allows the reader to raise questions and to think outside the box in order to draw conclusions. In Frank Stockton’s short story, “The Lady or the Tiger?” the author ends the story in a question allowing the reader to determine the conclusion of the story. The reader must decide if the lady or the tiger comes out of the door. A young handsome man stands at the centre of the arena with the faith of his life depending on the choice of a semi-barbaric princess. The semi-barbaric princess must decide whether or not the young man will receive a punishment or a reward. The punishment involves being devoured by a flesh-eating tiger and the reward involves marrying the loveliest damsel in the eyes of the court. Through careful analysis of “The Lady or the Tiger?” it is clear to the reader that the semi-barbaric princess points her lover towards the door in which the tiger lies behind.

As a result of the semi-barbaric princess’s feelings of envy towards the young lady she leads her lover to the door in which the tiger lies behind. In the eyes of the court the young lady is described