The Nature of Jealousy and Selfishness

The Nature of Jealousy and Selfishness

By nature, humans are bound by jealousy. Selfishness and envy can be seen in anybody anywhere. This is clearly displayed by Frank Stockton in his short story, "The Lady or the Tiger." In the very olden time, a king runs his empire in a rather barbaric way, especially his way of administering justice. When someone commits a crime, he lets the accused choose between two doors, one containing a beautiful lady who he is forced to marry and the other a brutal death in the jaws of a tiger. The king's daughter is in love with a young man but her father does not approve of this, putting him on trial. The princess ends up discovering which entities lay in either door and must decide which to tell her lover to pick. If she decides on the lady, she would have to see him be taken away by another woman, but if she decides on the tiger, she would have to see him heartlessly suffer in agony. However, in the end, it is not revealed which door she chooses. Thus, the story ends with the question that many philosophers seek to answer but never can: "Which came out, the lady or the tiger?" Through the thoughts and feelings of the princess, Stockton demonstrates that humans are bound by jealousy and selfishness, especially when it comes to one's love for another.

The fact that humans are bound by jealousy is clearly represented by the princess. For example, when the trial starts, the princess ponders on her hate for the woman in the door who she knows very well: "It was one of the fairest and the loveliest damsels of the court who had been selected as the reward of the accused youth...and the princess hated her" (Stockton 116). The princess will never allow her to marry the man she loves so dearly. Even if her lover survives, he will never be able to be with her. In addition, Stockton uses the word "it" to represent the other woman, emphasizing the princess's hate for the woman. Furthermore, she detests seeing her lover leave her and go with the other woman. The author explains how awful it would be for her if the lady walked out: "How in her grievous reveries had she gnashed her teeth, and torn her hair, when she saw his start of rapturous delight as he opened the door of the lady!" (Stockton 118). Through the heated thoughts of the princess, Stockton shows how people react to such situations. She would explode if she were to see such an occurrence. When she sees the two walk away together upon their path of flowers, her screams and shrieks of agony will certainly drown and be lost forever. Thus, the princess displays a true sense of envy.

In addition to jealousy, the princess shows that humans are selfish for love. Towards the beginning of the story, the author demonstrates how self-centered her love is for the young man: "This royal maiden was well satisfied with her lover, for he was handsome and brave