Response to the Lady or the Tiger

In the short story, “The Lady or the Tiger”, the accused is faced with a dilemma. Should he trust the princess whom he loves and open the door on the right she has gestured towards, or should he open the other door? One door hides a deadly tiger and the other door holds a beautiful lady. Based on the characterization of the princess in the story, the accused should choose the other door. If the princess wishes not to lose her lover to another woman, she will direct him towards death via the door behind which hides a tiger. If she loves him selflessly, she will also lose him, but to another woman rather than death. The story did not delve sufficiently into the love between the princess and the accused, so it is difficult to know how deep the love is. However, the writer has certainly given us glimpses of the princess’s jealousy and power as when he describes her as “possessed of more power, influence and force of character than anyone … “ (13) and that in relation to the lady behind one door “with all the intensity of savage blood transmitted to her through long lines of wholly barbaric ancestors, she hated the woman who blushed and trembled behind that silent door “ (14). This princess is the daughter of a semi-barbaric king and so we can suspect that much of his blood and character will be in her. She will not allow herself to lose her lover to another lovely woman. The accused will know which is stronger, the princess’s jealousy or her love, and should choose