"Lady or the Tiger"
by
Karlie Griffin
for
Mrs. Metzger
Grammar and Writing Honors
4th
8/24/15
Word Count: 243
Honor Code Statement
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Student’s Signature
Griffin 1
Everyone experiences difficult decisions in life. In the short story, "The Lady or the
Tiger" by Frank Stockton, a young, semi-barbaric princess faces a horrifying decision. She falls
in love with a man outside of her social status, which is forbidden by her father. She is forced to
choose between her lover being killed by a tiger or him spending forever with another woman.
After several agonizing days of thinking, she choses his death. Some people would disagree with
her decision by allowing their lover to live with another.
What are her reasons behind this decision? Well, this princess allows jealousy and
selfishness to take over. She was already aware of her lover and the other woman talking, as well
as stealing glances, which lead her to hating the other woman. Her jealousy does not
immediately impact her decision. She has nightmares about both the tiger and the woman and is
troubled until she finds another way, "the afterlife". He can be killed now and wait for her so
they can be together for eternity. Ultimately, jealousy leads her to choose death for her lover.
In the end decisions are not always easy. Jealousy, selfishness, anger and other emotions
can override basic understanding of right and wrong. In this situation the princess has a life or
death situation to make and unfortunately chooses death. Most would sacrifice their relationship
and allow their lover to live but jealousy can make people do irrational things.
Citations:
- "Lady or the Tiger" by Frank Stockton