Topic > The significant role of the tiger and the lady in the fate of the people in The Lady, or the Tiger, a short story by Frank R. Stockton

IndexIntroductionThe LadyThe TigerConclusionIntroductionIn "Lady, or the Tiger", a barbarian king proposes a form of punishment offered to his subjects. Every time an individual dares to love the king's daughter, he is forced to choose between two breathtaking options. The person will appear between two closed doors; one with a tiger behind it and the other with the king's daughter. The individual's ultimate destiny therefore becomes unknown to him. This essay examines the various supporters outlined in the story of both the tiger and the lady. Both these factors play a significant role in determining the fate of every person extricated from various forms of crime. The king had this inventive strategy to generate a high sense of punishment in his subjects. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThe ladyThe lady is considered the king's daughter. Anyone to conquer the woman had to risk his life by selecting one of the two closed doors. It was a fateful decision for which most of the courtiers found a lot of trouble in making an appropriate decision about it. On one occasion, one of the courtiers falls in love with the king's daughter and tries in every way to win her over. This aspect frustrates the king who chooses to punish the courtier tremendously (Rooke and Kaplan 22). The lady is an important figure in the life of the king. Indeed, the king could have done anything to ensure that someone would never win the lady's love. This is the main reason why the king had to implement a very decisive policy to conquer it. The king is very offended after the courtiers try to cut corners and win over the lady. This supporter brings with him the invention of risking his life for the woman. The prince, also interested in conquering the lady, looks for an alternative that can help him. The tiger The tiger represented the definitive end of an individual's life. Whenever a person had to meet the tiger while making a choice, there was no other way out. The tiger could end the person's life. This was a form of punishment where individuals decided their own end by making decisions. Sometimes it was luck, but it came with the sacrifice of one's life (Abrams 4). This form of punishment has meant that many criminals have no alternative but to choose either life imprisonment or suicide. The options behind the doors remained completely unknown to them as they could not understand exactly what they would encounter. The king could not make another U-turn whatever the option made by a courtier. This was the final punishment meted out to all criminals. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion In summary, the fate of the lover remained unknown and completely hidden between the two closed doors. It was a matter of life and death, and no one could even get a hint of what lies behind closed doors; was it a tiger or the lady. People believed that this form of punishment was a life sentence which apparently came along with luck. It was not easy to determine the best way to help the victims overcome the punishment. In fact, the executed did not find any way out that could reverse the situation. Instead, they had to try their luck and see if living was worth it.