The Lady, or the Tiger by Frank R. Stockton is about a tyrant’s daughter whose lover is put in an arena. In this arena the princess is forced to choose whether her lover gets mauled by a tiger or is married to another lady who she knows. We end up not knowing whether the princess has the lover choose the door with the tiger or the door with the woman.
Now the king is described as a semi-barbaric man in the story. He is described this way since he was somewhat influenced by the Romans who were actually considered polished and progressive. He in his arena was doing what he loved which was controlling peoples fates by chance, he was the judge. He controlled them as a tyrant and the audience found this ritual like thing entertaining but they most likely wouldn’t find it entertaining if they chose the tiger in this arena.
In the moment that the princess had to choose her lovers fate she effectively becomes the judge of the arena. In her choice she would either give in to her jealousy and barbaric side and give her lover the tiger. She could go into her love and compassion and give her lover to someone else.
In conclusion whatever she chooses she loses but it depends on whether she wants to live the rest of her life in guilt or live the rest of her life in envy. but whatever she chooses her lover will do whatever she wants him to do for he loves her and is enough of a fool to do anything.