Lady Or The Tiger Archetypes

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Frank R. Stockton's “The Lady or the Tiger” portrays through the White Goddess vs. the Creature of Nightmare, the Maze along with the Crossroads, and Star Crossed Lovers archetypes that love is a sacrifice.
For example, the author describes the princess as, “..hot blooded...” with a, “...soul at a white heat beneath the combined fires of despair and jealousy.”(3). Similar to the Creature of Nightmare, the princess has evil within her psyche. However, when compared against the White Goddess, she seems to have a pure soul. If the princess were to be put in a circumstance of love, which archetype would overpower the other? Perhaps her own thoughts would answer the question. Such an instance happens when the princess thinks of her lover opening …show more content…

This quote refers to the "class conflicts" that the archetype, Star-Crossed Lovers, often portrays. As the lovers are from contrasting statuses, their paths have been already foretold by the strain forced upon their respective positions in the social hierarchy. The author hints that he is aware of the archetype through the inclusion of "common to conventional heroes" and uses it to build upon the theme of "love is a sacrifice". Moreover, in another quote talking about the relationship between the lovers, the text states, "He loved the princess...nor anyone else thought of denying that fact...the king would not think of allowing any fact of this kind to interfere the workings of the tribunal." (2). Furthermore, this promotes the importance of class and destiny. The quote itself reveals the pressure put on the king to end the lover's relationship. This corresponds with the archetype by inferring that love has no future if the lovers are doomed in the public and parental eye. This damnation often leaves a limitation of choices for the characters, leading to the princess's final choice of sacrifice. In a covert signal unknown to the reader, the princess makes a sacrifice of love. This immolation did not come without intense contemplation. The thought of choosing the tiger would make her consumed "...in a wild horror" (3). While the other option of the bride would lead her to believe that her "...one despairing shriek" would be lost in the "...tremendous shouts of the hilarious multitude" (3). Both options would be a spike in the lover's relationship, leaving the princess with one horrible decision. Either the princess would have to face her hands being stained with blood or suffer the pain of seeing her lover in the arms of another. Both options are an unavoidable punishment

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