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The Lady or the Tiger
We are often faced with situations that require hard choices. However, what if the hard
choice requires one to choose between love and legacy? The literary piece “The Lady or the
Tiger” presents a dilemma to the reader. The story is about a historic hero but it is also a riddle
that requires the reader to think critically rather than just be a passive spectator. In the story,
there were two options either the lady or the tiger for which the princess had to choose for her
lover. The paper seeks to show that it is rewarding to choose love and life even when it does not
benefit us personally.
The princess is faced with the dilemma of either seeing her lover die or have her lover
marry another woman. However, the love between the princess and the young man is genuine.
The author writes “this royal maiden was well satisfied with her lover…” (Stockton). In essence,
the lady had every reason to sacrifice her happiness for the life of the young man who she dearly
loved. Therefore, the lady has no option but to direct her lover towards the gate that opens to the
lady rather than the tiger.
The daughter of the king was faced with a difficult decision of either blood or being
denied love. However, the importance of the story is that the two lovers communicated. They
agreed in unison on whatever action would follow. Therefore, even if the raising of the right
meant unleashing of the tiger, they were at peace.
