# Which was it - the Lady or the Tiger?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-was-it-the-lady-or-the-tiger/312655>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 15, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-was-it-the-lady-or-the-tiger/312655 "2005-07-15T15:03:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-was-it-the-lady-or-the-tiger/312655/41 "2005-07-17T02:51:58Z")

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Since I’m evil, my theory is:  
The princess arranged for herself to be the Lady, and dressed one of her handmaidens up as herself to do the hinting. Unfortunately, said handmaiden pointed the young man to the tiger. 😃

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**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2005, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-was-it-the-lady-or-the-tiger/312655/42 "2005-07-17T13:45:11Z")

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> [@Merijeek](#):
>
> Let’s face it, if it’s the King who is deciding (whether the guy was messing with his daughter or his wife) it’s pretty obvious what’s going to happen to the guy.

The king only decided which woman to put behind one of the doors. The decision of which door to open was entirely up to the prisoner. That was the sport of it, for him.

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**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2005, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-was-it-the-lady-or-the-tiger/312655/43 "2005-07-17T15:08:13Z")

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> [@Zoe](#):
>
> Since I was a child and first read this story, I’ve never doubted that the lady came out. I guess I have no imagination.

It’s a crummy story to read as a child, as most children assume the best about people and the answer seems obvious. In HS, where most of us read the story, many folks have experienced an emotional, jealous love affair and we can imagine wanting to destroy someone we’re in love with rather then let it go on without it. At this age we can at least understand why the princess would be tempted to choose the tiger.

> [@Earthstone](#):
>
> But you’ve given everything away and there was no Iocaine power involved…

Actually, in the original ending, the young man had spent years building up an immunity to tigers, and so was able to outsmart the kings twisted mind games.

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**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-was-it-the-lady-or-the-tiger/312655/44 "2005-07-17T16:02:50Z")

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> [@Malodorous](#):
>
> Actually, in the original ending, the young man had spent years building up an immunity to tigers, and so was able to outsmart the kings twisted mind games.

Ah, yes, by S. Morgenstern.

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