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Today, on this frosty winter morning, we read an older tale. It was a study on the human mind and the confines of personalities.
It is a short story titled The Lady or the Tiger and I thought it was very good. For those of you not familiar with this story, it is about a 'semibarbaric' princess who is the apple of her semibarbaric father, the king. The king has a very interesting way of punishing criminals. No matter what the charge, the accused is marched out into an arena. He is given the choice of two doors.
One, has a hungry tiger behind it. If the man choses' this door, then he will be devoured. Behind the other door is a beautiful woman. If he chooses' that door, he marries her, no matter what.
A commoner falls in love with the princess, and she loves him very much as well. The father finds out, and sends the man to be punished.
The princess turns out and points to a door. Only she knows what door the tiger is behind, and what door the maiden is behind.
The maiden behind the particular door, however, is a very beautiful young woman. The princess thinks that she is in love with her man, and despises her for it.
So, would the woman send her lover to his death, or to the arms of a woman whom she hates?
I said the tiger.
A friend of mine brought up an interesting point. What if she sent him to the maiden, and she then had them both killed afterwards?
Now, the lady... or the tiger?
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