Skip to main content

In "The Lady or the Tiger?" what parts of the princess's character make the question of what door she chose so difficult to answer?

The princess is passionate and semi-barbaric, but there is just as much reason for her to choose the lady as the tiger. 


The princess made the mistake of choosing a lover that her father did not approve of. Like her father, the princess has a semi-barbaric side.  She is a very passionate person, and although she seems infatuated with her lover, she also seems mercurial. 


This semi-barbaric king had a daughter as blooming as...

The princess is passionate and semi-barbaric, but there is just as much reason for her to choose the lady as the tiger. 


The princess made the mistake of choosing a lover that her father did not approve of. Like her father, the princess has a semi-barbaric side.  She is a very passionate person, and although she seems infatuated with her lover, she also seems mercurial. 



This semi-barbaric king had a daughter as blooming as his most florid fancies, and with a soul as fervent and imperious as his own. As is usual in such cases, she was the apple of his eye, and was loved by him above all humanity. 



Just how close is this princess with her lover?  She knows that her father has a bizarre system of justice where the accused is thrown into an arena and has to choose between two doors.  If he chooses the tiger, he is killed instantly.  If he chooses the lover, he will marry her.  That is the problem.  Although the princess is “well satisfied with her lover,” does she love him enough to save his life and see him in the arms of another girl? 


The princess knows the lady that has been chosen, and she is supremely jealous of her. 



It was one of the fairest and loveliest of the damsels of the court who had been selected as the reward of the accused youth, should he be proved innocent of the crime of aspiring to one so far above him; and the princess hated her. 



If she lets her lover live, she will have to see them together.  If she lets him die, she won’t get to have him but neither will the lady.  Is the princess so insanely jealous that she can’t stand to see her lover happy without her?  Will she swallow her jealousy and save his life, because she loves him?  The lover knows that the princess found out what was behind which door, but this does not answer the question of which one she chose.


If the princess was a more moral person, or a less jealous one, it would be easier to determine what she chose.  However, given her strong semi-barbaric personality, it is foolish to assume that she would spare her lover's life.  This is why the author leaves the story open-ended and ambiguous.  He wants us to ponder human nature.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more