History YMMV / TheLadyOrTheTiger

* FridgeHorror: While the story never tries to claim that the DoorRoulette trial for criminals is a good thing, there are plenty of terrible consequences that one can imagine. Not only can unlucky innocents get EatenAlive by the tiger, but culprits might end up getting off scot-free. As for those who end up being married, there's no guarantee that the marriage will be happy, especially for those, like the man, who already love someone else.

* ValuesDissonance: In addition to the obvious DeliberateValuesDissonance, the whole question may seem pointless to societies in which divorce is common, or even in which contracts (marriage included) made under threat of violence are null.

** The lover. When he asks her which door to choose, does he expect his princess to save him, or does he know that she'll send him to his death? In either case, he opens the door she indicates without hesitation.

* SignatureScene: The prisoner being forced to choose between the lady and the tiger at the trial, which will either end with his wedding or his funeral.

* FridgeLogic: The setup seems to assume that only heterosexual male criminals would enter the arena. While it's unlikely that the "semi-barbaric" society (or Stockton, who wrote the story in 1882) would have had a positive view of homosexuality, which might be considered a crime in and of itself, what about female criminals? Would they be offered a choice between a [[SpearCounterpart gentleman]] or a tiger, or would they not be able to participate?

** Not only does the story not show the outcome of the trial, but it doesn't even tell the readers what door the man chose. Did the man go to the door on the right, as the princess suggested, or did he choose the left? Did he think the princess would guide him to the lady, or the tiger, and what did ''he'' want? He appears desperate for a signal, but the question is whether he trusts the lady.

** The story consciously makes the decision to not show what the man decided. Did the man go to the door on the right, as the princess suggested, or did he choose the left? Did he think the princess would guide him to the lady, or the tiger, and what did ''he'' want? He appears desperate for a signal, but the question is whether he can trust the lady.
** The lady. Just how much of a romantic rival is she to the princess? Does she have feelings for the man, and/or vice versa? The narration admits that it is possible that the princess merely imagined the lady and her lover exchanging glances. As such, does she deserve the princess's jealousy and hatred, or are those sentiments even reciprocated?

** Did the man go to the door on the right, as the princess suggested, or did he choose the left? Did he think the princess would guide him to the lady, or the tiger, and what did ''he'' want?

** While being ripped apart by a starving tiger is obviously a horrible way to die, is being married to the lady truly a reward? The king doesn't care if the man in question is already married, or whether he even loves the woman. As for the princess's lover, the king came up with the idea in order to deal with the youth one way or the other. Obviously, the king is prepared to let the youth die, but did he give him the opportunity to get married in order to get him out of the way, or did he intend to give the young man a suitable bride to convince him not to pursue the princess?

* FridgeLogic: The setup seems to assume that only heterosexual male criminals would enter the arena. While it's unlikely that the "semi-barbaric" society (or Stockton, who wrote the story in 1882) would have had a positive view of homosexuality, would female criminals be offered a choice between a [[SpearCounterpart gentleman]] or a tiger, or would they not be able to participate?

** The lady. Just how much of a romantic rival is she to the princess? Does she have feelings for the man, and/or vice versa? The narration admits that it is possible that the princess merely imagined the lady and her lover exchanging glances.