The "semi-barbaric" king in Frank Stockton's short story "The Lady or the Tiger" develops a justice system which is based totally on the whims of fate. Accused prisoners are tried in the arena where they have the choice of two doors. Behind one door is a tiger which kills him, thus proving the man's guilt. Behind the other door is a woman who promptly marries him, proving his innocence. In reality, it is quite a...
The "semi-barbaric" king in Frank Stockton's short story "The Lady or the Tiger" develops a justice system which is based totally on the whims of fate. Accused prisoners are tried in the arena where they have the choice of two doors. Behind one door is a tiger which kills him, thus proving the man's guilt. Behind the other door is a woman who promptly marries him, proving his innocence. In reality, it is quite a fickle form of justice and not based on anything other than good or bad luck.
Because of the sheer luck involved and the fact that the prisoner made his own choice made the institution appear completely impartial to the subjects of the kingdom. Stockton writes,
Its perfect fairness is obvious...Thus, the masses were entertained and pleased, and the thinking part of the community could bring no charge of unfairness against this plan, for did not the accused person have the whole matter in his own hands?
The perfect fairness of this justice comes under question, however, in the final part of the story when the princess discovers the secret of the doors when her lover is accused of a crime. The fact that someone could discover from which the tiger or from which the lady would emerge compromised the entire process and rendered the king's justice quite corrupt.
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