two doorways with an elegant woman standing in one and a large tiger head in the other

The Lady, or the Tiger?

by Francis Richard Stockton

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Discussion Topic

Details and customs in the short story "The Lady, or the Tiger?"

Summary:

"The Lady, or the Tiger?" features details and customs of a semi-barbaric kingdom where justice is determined by a public trial. The accused must choose between two doors—behind one is a lady, symbolizing innocence, and behind the other is a tiger, symbolizing guilt. This ritual reflects the king's arbitrary and cruel sense of justice.

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What can you provide about the short story, "The Lady, or the Tiger?"

Not sure what type of information you are looking for, but the story is about a princess who falls in love and wants a relationship with someone her father does not consider good enough for her.  He has a rule of justice where the accused goes into an arena and chooses between one of two doors.  If he picks one door there will be a beautiful woman behind it that he will have to marry immediately.  Behind the second door is a vicious tiger that will kill him.  The young man is counting on the princess to signal him which door to pick.  The conflict is whether or not the princess would rather see him dead by the tiger or let him live with another woman.  You can find a great deal of information at the links below.

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What is the custom in the short story "The Lady or the Tiger?"

The unusual custom in the...

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society ofFrank R. Stockton's The Lady or the Tiger? is the arbitrary legal system referenced in the title. When someone in this society commits a crime, their trial consists of picking between two soundproofed, identical doors. Behind one of the doors, there is a woman chosen specifically by the king to suit the accused, and behind the other door there is a starving tiger. If the accused chooses the door with the woman behind it, he is declared innocent and must marry the woman immediately. If he chooses the door with the tiger, he is declared guilty and killed by the tiger. The system is entirely based on chance, with the guilt of the accused determined randomly.

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