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In "The Lady, or the Tiger?" by Frank Stockton, what does the narrator's advice regarding the princess mean and why does Stockton include it?
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The narrator's advice in "The Lady, or the Tiger?" encourages readers to consider the princess's perspective rather than their own, highlighting her semi-barbaric nature and jealousy. Stockton includes this to guide readers toward understanding that the princess's emotions and motivations, particularly her hatred for the rival maiden, may lead her to choose the door with the tiger. This advice suggests that the princess's jealousy outweighs her love for the courtier, complicating the story's outcome.
At the end of the story, Stockton advises readers to not rely upon their own judgment as if they were in the position to influence the young courtier but to view the situation from the princess's perspective. By doing so, Stockton influences the reader to analyze the princess's personality, emotions, and motivation. Stockton is aware that most readers desire a happy ending and are not emotionally invested in the courtier's decision. He anticipates that readers would more than likely presume that the princess would save the courtier's life if her decision relied upon their judgement and morals. However, Stockton cleverly advises readers to analyze the princess's character and motivation, which suggests that she would more than likely steer the courtier toward the door with the tiger behind it.
Stockton makes it clear that the princess is "semi-barbaric" and refers to her as being "hot-blooded." He also elaborates on the princess's...
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hatred for the beautiful maiden waiting behind one of the doors and an element of jealousy is prevalent in her personality. Stockton also emphasizes her "savage blood" from her "wholly barbaric ancestors," which implies that she is capable of violence and has cruel intentions when directing the young courtier. By advising the reader to consider the decision using the princess's judgment, Stockton suggests that the princess's barbaric side influences her to direct the courtier toward the door with a ferocious tiger behind it.
In the short story, "The Lady or the Tiger," author Frank Stockton tells the readers to make up their minds about what happens based on the personality of the princess rather than on their own in order to give the readers a clue as to what door the princess nodded toward in the end. Most readers want a happy ending. They want love to win out, and because the princess loved the young man, surely she would do the right thing and nod toward the door behind which stands the beautiful young woman! However, the big clue here is the word "semi-barbaric." The princess is like her father. She is more than likely to have the attitude of "If I can't have him, nobody can." We know she is very jealous of the young woman.
"The girl was lovely, but she had dared to raise her eyes to the loved one of the princess; and, with all the intensity of the savage blood transmitted to her through long lines of wholly barbaric ancestors, she hated the woman who blushed and trembled behind that silent door" (Stockton 8).
Stockton is telling us that it doesn't matter whether or not the princess loves the young man. Her hatred for the other woman trumped that love, and there is no way she would allow a marriage between the two of them. The big question is whether or not the young man was smart enough to know this. If he did, he would, of course, pick the door the princess had not nodded toward!