1.3.3 - The Lady or the Tiger? by Frank R. Stockton
SYNOPSIS
The story revolves around a semi-barbaric king who tries to reform and refine his subjects through a special kind of punishment. The King’s peculiar way of meting out justice is narrated in an interesting manner.
Semi-barbaric king:
The king was a semi-barbaric ruler and a man of great fancy. He implemented his ideas using his authority. He would think over an issue and once he was convinced, he would follow his ideas. He had a barbaric method (cruel method) of administering justice which looked very fair. The fate of the accused person would be decided in the King’s arena. The accused person had the choice of opening one of two similar looking doors and could be killed by a tiger
or could marry a beautiful woman. The King thought that the cruel practice will refine his subjects and culture the minds of the people who live in the kingdom. The practice is impartial and incorruptible at any chance.
Door with the Tiger:
The accused subject were asked to step inside the amphitheatre and directly opposite them were two doors. The subject would walk directly to the doors and open one of them. He could open either door he pleased. If a hungry tiger came out of the door he opened, the fiercest and cruelest tiger immediately sprang upon him and tore him to pieces as punishment. The audience in the public arena would walk slowly toward homeward mourning greatly for the
dead souls.
Door with the Lady:
If the accused person opened the other door, there came forth a lady. The most suitable to his years and to this lady the accused subject was immediately married as a reward of his innocence. Once the lady comes out, another door opens beneath the king, and a priest followed by a band of choirs and the wedding was promptly cheered. This was the King’s semi-barbaric method of administering justice. The accused person was instantly punished if he found himself guilty and if innocent he was rewarded on the spot whether he liked it or not. There was no escape from the judgment.
King’s Daughter and Her Love:
The king had a daughter and she was the apple of his eye and was loved by him above all humanity. Among the subjects, a man of that fineness of blood and lowness of station loved the king’s daughter. The love affair moved on happily for many months, until one day the king happened to discover it. The youth was immediately cast into prison and a day was appointed for his trail (punishment) in the public arena.
Everyone looked for the most fierce tiger and the most beautiful lady to stand behind the two doors. The appointed day arrived. The signal was given. The youth advanced into the arena. His eyes were fixed upon the princess (King’s daughter). When her lover turned and looked at her, she looked pale and white. She knew behind which door crouched the tiger and behind which door stood the lady. Quick glances were shared and the answer reached the young maiden who loved the King’s daughter. The princes had a difficult decision to make, whether to save the young man from death or to allow him to marry another woman. She raised her hand and made a slight, quick movement towards the right. Without the slightest hesitation he went to the door on the right and opened it. Now the point of the story is this: WHICH CAME OUT OF THE OPENED DOOR - THE LADY OR THE TIGER?
The writer leaves it to the imagination of the readers as to what came out of the opened door – the lady or the tiger. For, how could we be sure that the princess would let the young man live and marry the lady when she loved him so much herself? Again however jealous she is, would the princess lead the young man to a wrong choice and be eaten by the tiger? The readers should settle if for themselves, feels the author.
Book Back Questions
1. Describe the semi-barbaric king.
The king was a semi-barbaric ruler and a man of great fancy. He used his authority to implement his ideas. Once he thought over an issue and felt convinced, he followed his ideas strictly. He had a cruel but fair method of administering justice. According to his system, the fate of the accused was decided in the public arena. The accused had to open one of two similar doors. Behind one door was a fierce tiger and behind the other was a beautiful lady. The king believed that this method was impartial and incorruptible. He thought that this cruel practice would refine his subjects and improve their culture. Thus, the king was partly barbaric and partly civilized in his ideas and actions.
2. How do the citizens of the kingdom feel about the king’s method of justice?
The citizens accepted the king’s method of justice as fair and impartial. They believed that there was no escape from judgment in the king’s arena. The system was seen as incorruptible because chance decided the fate of the accused. If the accused was guilty, he was punished instantly by the tiger. If he was innocent, he was rewarded immediately by marriage to a beautiful lady. The public gathered in large numbers to witness the trials in the arena. When the tiger killed a man, the audience returned home mourning for the dead soul. When a lady came out, the wedding was celebrated with music and cheer. Thus, the people accepted the king’s method as a proper way of justice.
3. What happened to the handsome young man?
A handsome young man belonging to a low station fell in love with the king’s daughter. Their love continued happily for many months. One day, the king discovered their love affair. The young man was immediately arrested and thrown into prison. A day was fixed for his trial in the public arena. The king ordered that the fiercest tiger and the most beautiful lady should be placed behind the two doors. On the appointed day, the young man entered the arena and looked at the princess. She knew which door had the tiger and which had the lady. She signaled him to open the door on the right. Without hesitation, he opened that door. What followed remains unknown to the readers.
4. What came out of the opened door – the lady or the tiger?
The story does not clearly say what came out of the opened door. When the young man opened the door on the right, the writer leaves the ending to the imagination of the readers. The princess knew the secret of both the doors. She loved the young man deeply, but she was also jealous. The question is whether she allowed him to live by marrying another woman or led him to death by the tiger. The author does not give a definite answer. He asks the readers to decide for themselves what came out of the door. Thus, the ending remains a mystery, and the story ends with a powerful question — whether it was the lady or the tiger.
5. How does the semi-barbaric king refine his people?
The semi-barbaric king tries to refine his people through a special kind of justice. He believes that fear and reward will improve the behavior of his subjects. In his arena, the accused must choose between two doors. One door hides a fierce tiger, and the other hides a beautiful lady. If the accused is guilty, he is punished immediately by death. If he is innocent, he is rewarded instantly with marriage. This system is public, impartial, and final. The king believes that this method will teach people responsibility and discipline. He thinks that such justice will cultivate the minds of his people and refine their character. Thus, the king uses his cruel system to reform society.
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