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Why might Stockton have left the ending of this story ambiguous--was he trying to make a particular point or create a particular effect? Explain whether you think the ambiguous ending makes the story memorable.

I don't suppose we can know exactly why the author ended the story by not resolving the dramatic tension and providing a conclusion. One thing we do know, however, is that it is the ambiguous ending that has made this story very memorable and much discussed. It is the ending that has made this story so well known. Readers supply their own endings, based upon their interpretation of the context clues and their personal beliefs about human nature.

You guys really think the ending’s ambiguous? I thought Stockton made it very clear:D LOL My favorite theory goes like this. The lady knew who the girl was. She knew what door the girl was behind. She hated the girl because she’d seen her lover and the girl flirting. So when she indicated what door her lover should choose it was the one behind which the tiger was located. After all she did have a barbaric nature. However, her lover knew her nature. He would know she would find out. He would know that she would not want him to be with another woman. He would know that she would send him to the door with the tiger, so, knowing her nature he chose the door opposite the one to which she directed him, and thus he ended up with the beautiful girl anyway.