“The Lady, or the Tiger?”, by Frank R. Stockton, was published in 1882. It tells the story of a “semi-barbaric” princess who must decide whether to send her lover to his death via tiger or allow him to marry another woman. Stockton first came up with the story to entertain guests at a literary party. It sparked such discussion that Stockton decided to write it up as a formal short story, which appeared in Century Magazine.
The story has been adapted many times over the years. Almost immediately, it was adapted into a play. It has since been adapted for the stage and the screen. It has also appeared in various poems, including Sylvia Plath’s “Ennui.”
