Reviews

The Lady or the Tiger? And, the Discourager of Hesitancy by Frank R. Stockton

lonelyasfranz's review

1.0

Absolute trash story with an absolute trash ending. There’s, quite frankly, no point in leaving it open-ended. It’s not clever or charming, it’s simply stupid. I don’t care how short it is; do not waste your time reading this literary disgrace.

I’ve got a question, though: why so much ambiguity with tigers in literature? First we have to wonder if Richard Parker is real, now if Loverboy has been ripped apart. The only difference is, the ambiguity in Life of Pi had a purpose and could truly be pondered. Here, there’s no point.

biw's review

5.0

the usage of wording and writing in this short novel had my jaw on the floor holy-

a_1212's review

3.0

~3.25

margot_meanders's review

5.0

"The Lady, or the Tiger?" by Frank R. Stockton: Set in an ancient kingdom, this story presents a moral dilemma where a condemned man must choose between two doors, one hiding a tiger and the other a lady.

It stands for an unsolvable dilemma. Great story.

shellydav's review

dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Stockton presents a fantastical story of a "semi-barbaric" king and his fully barbaric means of levying justice in his kingdom. When his daughter's love interest is punished, the reader learns that barbarism runs in the family, or does it?  Other reviewers dislike the ending. I think it is refreshing. It adds depth to the story.

amber_lea84's review

4.0

The tiger, obvs. Worst. Girlfriend. Ever.

annaavian's review

1.0

The cliff-hanger at the end was not compelling at all and overall I found the story to be quite pedestrian.

rubi7's review

4.0

Now you know this was written by a man because he chose to be SO annoying and intellectually pretentious about the ending

I was like wow this is not at all vague and very easy to understand compared to other short stories I’ve been reading :) and then he ended it like that :|

And I think she definitely chose the tiger <3

_kentim02's review

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

dothelonir's review

4.0

4.5