Introduction
Intractable moral choices have been known to capture the attention of readers for a long time. In the short story “The Lady or the Tiger”, the author, Frank Stockton, highlights two most intriguing choices, one involving love and the other about death. The story, which explores a variety of themes, is set in an undisclosed kingdom under the semi-barbaric authority of a king. It discusses an odd legal process devised by this king predicated on his perception of justice. A breakdown of different themes such as jealousy, human nature, and savagery in humans form the basis of this paper.
Jealousy
Gauging from my perspective, the theme of jealousy is depicted as an extension of love. The depth of the relationship between the courtier and princess is highlighted by how the two communicated perfectly without words. However, despite her love for the courtier, the princess is aware that she will eventually lose him to another woman. The theme of jealousy is evident when the princess loses the courtier. She wonders if is preferable to keep him when the princess dies; “Would it not be better for him to die at once, and wait for her in the regions of semi-barbaric futurity?” (Stockton 40). Therefore, I can conclude that jealousy can affect one’s rational decision-making processes, especially when strong feelings of affection are involved.
The Power of Fate
After analyzing different sections of the story, I can conclude that the power of fate predominantly belongs to the princess. She is depicted as the one who controls destiny because she is mandated to make critical choices depending on her understanding of the doors and their implications. The author narrates that the princess new the doors well; “She knew in which of the two rooms, stood the cage of the tiger, and in which waited for the lady” (Stockton 42). The accused fate is constrained as he cannot hear anything behind either door because both are thoroughly soundproofed.
If he chooses the door with the woman inside, he is deemed innocent and his fate is thought to be an immediate marriage. On the other hand, if he chooses the door with the tiger behind it, he is judged guilty and is promptly attacked by the animal, sealing his fate. Therefore, I can conclude that the power of fate, as perceived by the authority in this context, can lead to death or redemption of victims depending on the hint given to them by the princess.
Human Nature
According to my understanding of the story, the trials of those found guilty ended fatally because the human primordial nature and conventional wisdom held that only the innocent deserve mercy. We are informed that when the king “…opened the door, there came out of it a hungry tiger, which immediately tore him to pieces as a punishment for his guilt.” (Stockton 44). The excerpt’s description of the brutality of the situation sheds light on how it is inherently human nature to punish those who are found guilty. Additionally, Stockton further blends the theme of human nature and primitive conditioning along with the aspect of savagery in humans through the protagonist.
Savagery in Humans
The theme of cruelty is portrayed by the king who is described as semi-barbaric: “In the very olden time, there lived a semi-barbaric king…” (Stockton 40). It is worth noting that the king’s arena is built largely around the interaction between decisions and their outcomes. Whenever a person broke the law, they were sent into the arena and forced to choose a door that will determine their fate.
Since the accused must choose one of the doors, the king’s tribunal can be seen as the logical conclusion of a legal system that aims to eliminate human prejudice from the kingdom. Nonetheless, in my opinion, the option of having the tiger in one of the rooms highlights the level of savagery in humans, especially those in authority. Therefore, I can conclude that the cruelty of leaders, if not controlled, can result in unfavorable outcomes (including death) among those with limited power.
On the same note, it is difficult to state the aftermath of opening the door. Stockton leaves the reader to choose whether the princess’ hint directed the accused to the door with the tiger or the one with the woman. The author magnifies this dilemma by providing a summary of the princess’s emotions and her ideas about sending the accused to a certain fate because she would either lose him to death or marriage. She weighs the benefits and disadvantages of each choice, focusing particularly on the woman.
Conclusion
As I have already highlighted in the introductory paragraph, the story “The Lady or the Tiger” explores two most intriguing choices involving love and death. Author Stockton effectively addressed various thematic concerns such as jealousy, human nature, and savagery in humans using characters such as the barbaric king, the princess and the courtier as discussed throughout the paper. The study of different thematic concerns addressed in this narrative can help readers to understand the intensity of consequences that can be attached to their actions and therefore necessitate them to act accordingly.
Works Cited
Stockton, Frank Richard. The Lady or The Tiger? Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1884.