bobquasit | Lady/Tiger

I haven't watched the Sopranos in a long time^*, but I follow them online a bit. That is, I read articles about the show. As a result, I know more about some aspects of the show than some people who actually watch it. Teri was rather bemused by that recently.

Anyway, one online discussion today of the Sopranos finale referenced the classic old short story The Lady Or The Tiger?. I went over and re-read the story, and couldn't resist commenting. My comment hasn't appeared there yet (I suspect it may have been too long), so I thought I'd save a copy here.

What I find interesting is that the young man didn't hesitate, but trusted the princess. To me, that indicates that he had not been unfaithful to the princess; if he had, he'd have had doubts, fears that she knew about his betrayal and was punishing him.

On the other hand, if he was enough of a narcissist (and he'd have to have a pretty big ego to dare to woo the Princess; as the story said, he was the first), he might well have assumed that he was SO charming that *of course* the princess wouldn't send him to the tiger - she couldn't bear to lose him.

Still, the young man's unquestioning obedience is not a very true representation of human nature. I think almost anyone would have paused for at least a moment.

That said, on re-reading this for the first time since junior high school (roughly thirty years ago), I have no doubt: Tiger.

She's her father's daughter, after all. And most women would rather see their lover dead than in the arms of ANY other woman, much less a hated rival. Besides, as royalty in a semi-barbaric kingdom, the princess would hardly be used to suffering and deprivation - and she'd endure far more of it watching her lover with her rival over a lifetime, than from watching her lover being quickly torn to bits by the tiger. If anything, that experience would probably give a frisson of pleasure to her barbarian nature!

On an unrelated note, I have to wonder: how did they stop the tiger from roaring and otherwise making noise? You'd think that would give the trick of the doors away, at least some of the time. Okay, I know, it's a story and a metaphor. So the question is moot. :D

^* - years!