COLLECTION NAME:
Deaf Studies, Culture, and History Archives
mediaCollectionId
RIT~7~7
Deaf Studies, Culture, and History Archives
Collection
true
Filename:
ds_0031_panaraladyortiger_cap_01.mp4
filename
ds_0031_panaraladyortiger_cap_01.mp4
Filename
false
Identifier:
ds_0031_panaraladyortiger_cap_01.mp4
identifier
ds_0031_panaraladyortiger_cap_01.mp4
Identifier
false
Title:
The Lady or the Tiger
title
The Lady or the Tiger
Title
false
Creator:
Panara, Robert
creator
Panara, Robert
Creator
false
Subject:
American Sign Language literature
subject
American Sign Language literature
Subject
false
Summary:
"The Lady or The Tiger Story Performed by Dr. Robert F. Panara 1985
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE [summarized by Joan Naturale]
This story, The Lady or The Tiger, by Frank Stockton is performed in sign language by Dr. Panara. The story is about a king who set up a system to determine whether a prisoner was guilty or not guilty of a crime. The public was invited to the arena where the king sat on a throne. In front of the throne were two doors. Behind one door was a ferocious tiger, and behind the other, a beautiful lady. The prisoner had to choose a door, and if he chose the tiger, he was mauled to death and determined to be guilty. If he chose the lady, the King would host a wedding feast, as the prisoner was determined to be innocent.
The King had a beautiful daughter, a Princess, who fell in love with a handsome man from the lower class. They had a secret relationship for several months until the King found out about it and became angry. He arrested his daughter’s boyfriend and he appeared in the arena to choose a door. The Princess found out what was behind the doors and would give a clue to her boyfriend. The beautiful lady behind the door once showed an interest in the boyfriend. The Princess sat next to her father and moved her hand to the right to indicate the right door to choose for him. What was behind the door? Did the Princess choose the tiger, a quick but brutal and bloody death, or the lady, whom he would marry?"
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE [summarized by Joan Naturale]
This story, The Lady or The Tiger, by Frank Stockton is performed in sign language by Dr. Panara. The story is about a king who set up a system to determine whether a prisoner was guilty or not guilty of a crime. The public was invited to the arena where the king sat on a throne. In front of the throne were two doors. Behind one door was a ferocious tiger, and behind the other, a beautiful lady. The prisoner had to choose a door, and if he chose the tiger, he was mauled to death and determined to be guilty. If he chose the lady, the King would host a wedding feast, as the prisoner was determined to be innocent.
The King had a beautiful daughter, a Princess, who fell in love with a handsome man from the lower class. They had a secret relationship for several months until the King found out about it and became angry. He arrested his daughter’s boyfriend and he appeared in the arena to choose a door. The Princess found out what was behind the doors and would give a clue to her boyfriend. The beautiful lady behind the door once showed an interest in the boyfriend. The Princess sat next to her father and moved her hand to the right to indicate the right door to choose for him. What was behind the door? Did the Princess choose the tiger, a quick but brutal and bloody death, or the lady, whom he would marry?"
description
"The Lady or The Tiger Story Performed by Dr. Robert F. Panara 1985
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE [summarized by Joan Naturale]
This story, The Lady or The Tiger, by Frank Stockton is performed in sign language by Dr. Panara. The story is about a king who set up a system to determine whether a prisoner was guilty or not guilty of a crime. The public was invited to the arena where the king sat on a throne. In front of the throne were two doors. Behind one door was a ferocious tiger, and behind the other, a beautiful lady. The prisoner had to choose a door, and if he chose the tiger, he was mauled to death and determined to be guilty. If he chose the lady, the King would host a wedding feast, as the prisoner was determined to be innocent.
The King had a beautiful daughter, a Princess, who fell in love with a handsome man from the lower class. They had a secret relationship for several months until the King found out about it and became angry. He arrested his daughter’s boyfriend and he appeared in the arena to choose a door. The Princess found out what was behind the doors and would give a clue to her boyfriend. The beautiful lady behind the door once showed an interest in the boyfriend. The Princess sat next to her father and moved her hand to the right to indicate the right door to choose for him. What was behind the door? Did the Princess choose the tiger, a quick but brutal and bloody death, or the lady, whom he would marry?"
Summary
false
Digital Publisher:
Rochester Institute of Technology - RIT Libraries - RIT Archive Collections
digital_publisher
Rochester Institute of Technology - RIT Libraries - RIT Archive Collections
Digital Publisher
false
Contributor:
Stockton, Frank R., 1834-1902
contributor
Stockton, Frank R., 1834-1902
Contributor
false
Date of Original:
1985
date
1985
Date of Original
false
Date of Digitization:
2018
date_of_digitization
2018
Date of Digitization
false
Broad Type:
moving image
broad_type
moving image
Broad Type
false
Digital File Format:
mp4
format
mp4
Digital File Format
false
Physical Format:
videotapes
physical_format
videotapes
Physical Format
false
Language:
American Sign Language
language
American Sign Language
Language
false
Language:
English
language
English
Language
false
Original Item Location:
RITDSA.0031
relation
RITDSA.0031
Original Item Location
false
Library Collection:
RIT/NTID Deaf Studies Archive
original_item_location
RIT/NTID Deaf Studies Archive
Library Collection
false
Library Collection:
Robert Panara Deaf Video Collection
original_item_location
Robert Panara Deaf Video Collection
Library Collection
false
Digital Project:
2018-2019 CLIR Grant-ASL Poetry and Literature
digital_projects__
2018-2019 CLIR Grant-ASL Poetry and Literature
Digital Project
false
Catalog Record:
catalog_record
https://archivesspace.rit.edu/repositories/2/resources/819
Catalog Record
false
Place:
New York - Rochester
coverage
New York - Rochester
Place
false
Place:
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
coverage
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
Place
false
RIT Spaces and Places:
Henrietta Campus
rit_spaces_and_places_ii
Henrietta Campus
RIT Spaces and Places
false
Transcript:
MAN: "THE LADY OR THE TIGER."
"THE LADY OR THE TIGER"
BY FRANK STOCKTON.
MANY, MANY YEARS AGO
LIVED IN A STRANGE COUNTRY
A KING
WHO HAD DIFFERENT IDEAS
THAN MOST KINGS.
WHEREAS MOST KINGS USED
A COLOSSEUM
FOR THROWING PEOPLE SUCH
AS CHRISTIANS
TO THE LIONS
OR HAVING THEM FIGHT
EACH OTHER,
SUCH AS GLADIATORS,
THIS KING THOUGHT
OF SOMETHING BETTER,
SOMETHING MORE INTELLECTUALLY
CHALLENGING
TO THE PEOPLE IN THAT COUNTRY.
THE KING DEVISED AN ARENA
WITH ENCLOSED SEATING
AND WHEREAS ANYTIME
A PERSON WAS ARRESTED
FOR MISCONDUCT OR ACCUSED
OF A CRIME,
THE KING WOULD HAVE THAT PERSON
IN THE ARENA
AND WOULD SUMMON THE PEOPLE
TO ASSEMBLE.
AND THE KING WOULD SIT HIGH
UP ON THE THRONE.
AND IN FRONT OF THE KING
WERE TWO DOORS
JUST OPPOSITE OF HIM,
AND THEY WERE THE EXACT SAME
TWO DOORS.
BEHIND ONE DOOR
WAS A TIGER,
A FEROCIOUS BEAST,
THE MEANEST IN ALL THE LAND.
BEHIND THE SECOND DOOR
WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL.
THE PERSON WHO WAS ARRESTED
WOULD BE PLACED IN JAIL
AND THEN BROUGHT TO THE ARENA.
AND THE KING WOULD ORDER
THE PRISONER
TO CHOOSE A DOOR.
IF THE PRISONER CHOSE
THE DOOR
AND OUT CAME THE
FEROCIOUS LION,
THE PRISONER WOULD BE
TORN TO PIECES
IN AN INSTANT.
AND THAT RESULT WOULD SHOW
THAT THE PERSON
WAS GUILTY AND DESERVED
THAT APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENT.
HOWEVER, IF THE PRISONER
CHOSE THE OTHER DOOR
AND OUT CAME THE
BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL,
THAT WOULD PROVE THAT HE WAS
NOT GUILTY,
THAT HE WAS HONEST,
AND THE KING WOULD HAVE
THAT MAN FREED
AND WOULD ALLOW HIM TO MARRY
THE DAMSEL IMMEDIATELY.
THE KING WOULD EVEN HAVE
A PREACHER
READY WITH BIBLE IN HAND
TO MARRY THE TWO.
THE KING WOULD PROVIDE
A CHORUS,
ALL THE PEOPLE WOULD BE INVITED
TO A FEAST,
THE WEDDING BELLS RANG FORTH.
THAT WAS AN INTERESTING SYSTEM
OF DECIDING JUDGMENT
AND WAS VERY POPULAR
WITH THE PEOPLE
BECAUSE...
THE PRISONER WOULD HAVE
HIS OWN LIFE
IN HIS OWN HANDS
AND WOULD PROVE EITHER HE WAS
WRONG OR RIGHT,
GUILTY OR INNOCENT.
ONE DAY IT HAPPENED THAT
THE KING HAD A DAUGHTER.
SHE WAS CALLED THE PRINCESS.
WE SIGN PRINCESS.
SHE WAS QUITE BEAUTIFUL.
ONE DAY, SHE FELL IN LOVE
WITH A YOUNG MAN
WHO WAS HANDSOME AND BRAVE,
BUT THAT YOUNG MAN WAS
FROM A LOWER CLASS
OF PEOPLE, NOT A MEMBER
OF THE NOBILITY.
THE TWO OF THEM CARRIED ON
A SECRET AFFAIR
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS
UNTIL ONE DAY THE KING
FOUND OUT,
FOUND THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER
AND BECAME VERY ANGRY,
DIDN'T LIKE ANY OF
THE LOWER SUBJECTS
TO BE WITH HIS DAUGHTER.
THAT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE.
SO THE KING HAD THE YOUNG MAN
ARRESTED
AND THROWN IN JAIL.
THE DAY WAS COMING WHEN THIS
YOUNG MAN
WOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ARENA
AND WOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE
A DOOR.
THE KING SEARCHED LONG AND HARD
FOR THE MOST SAVAGE TIGER
IN THE WORLD
AND PUT THE TIGER BEHIND
ONE OF THE DOORS.
THE KING ALSO SEARCHED ALL OVER
TO FIND THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL
AND PUT HER BEHIND
THE OTHER DOOR.
IT HAPPENED THAT THE PRINCESS
WHO LOVED THAT YOUNG MAN...
SHE FOUND A WAY...
AS ALL WOMEN DO, USING THEIR
BEAUTY, INFLUENCE, AND MONEY...
SHE FOUND OUT WHO OR WHAT
WAS BEHIND EACH OF THE DOORS.
SHE FOUND THAT OUT.
SHE KNEW EXACTLY WHERE
THE DAMSEL WAS AND WHERE
THE TIGER WAS.
THE DAY ARRIVED FOR THE YOUNG
MAN TO BE BROUGHT TO THE ARENA,
AND THE KING SAT HIGH
ON HIS THRONE.
NEXT TO HIM WAS HIS DAUGHTER.
AND THE PEOPLE,
THE THRONGS OF PEOPLE
MADE THEIR WAY INTO
THE COLOSSEUM,
TAKING THEIR SEATS TO OBSERVE
WHICH DOOR
THE YOUNG MAN WOULD CHOOSE.
NOW, THE PEOPLE HAD HEARD ABOUT
THE SECRET LOVE AFFAIR
AND ABOUT THE PRINCESS'
YOUNG MAN,
SO MANY OF THEM WANTED TO PAY
WITNESS TO THIS EVENT.
THE YOUNG MAN CAME OUT
AND WALKED INTO THE CENTER
OF THE ARENA.
AND THE PEOPLE STARED,
AND THEY SAID, "WHAT A NICE,
HANDSOME, TALL YOUNG MAN."
AND THE PEOPLE GOSSIPED.
THEY WERE NOT SURPRISED
THAT THE PRINCESS
HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH HIM.
AND SO THE YOUNG MAN
STOOD IN THE CENTER OF THE ARENA
AND BOWED TO THE KING.
AND AT THE SAME TIME,
HE LOOKED OVER AT
THE KING'S DAUGHTER,
HIS SWEETHEART.
AND HE KNEW THAT SHE MUST HAVE
FOUND OUT
THE SECRET AS TO WHICH WAS
BEHIND EACH
OF THE TWO DOORS.
AND THEY STARED
AT EACH OTHER.
THE PRINCESS WAS THINKING.
SHE KNEW WHAT WAS BEHIND
THE DOORS.
SHE KNEW WHERE THE TIGER WAS
AND WHERE THE DAMSEL WAS.
AND SHE KNEW THAT THIS
BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL
HAD ONCE HAD AN INTEREST
IN THAT YOUNG MAN.
AND SO SHE SAT THERE
WITH HER ARM ON THE PARAPET,
STARING BELOW.
AND THE YOUNG MAN CONTINUED
TO LOOK TO SEE
IF SHE WOULD GIVE HIM
AN INDICATION
AS TO WHICH DOOR
HE SHOULD CHOOSE.
AND SHE GESTURED WITH
HER RIGHT HAND,
POINTING TO A DOOR
AND SMILING.
AND THE YOUNG MAN KNEW
AT THAT INSTANT
THAT NONE OF THE PEOPLE
IN THE STANDS
SAW THIS EXCHANGE,
WHAT THE PRINCESS HAD DONE.
AND SO SHE GESTURED
AND SMILED.
AND THE YOUNG MAN NODDED
AND WALKED TO THE RIGHT DOOR
AND OPENED THE DOOR.
NOW, THE QUESTION FOR YOU--
WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT DOOR?
WAS IT THE TIGER
OR WAS IT THE LADY?
THE LADY OR THE TIGER?
YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT
THE PRINCESS
WAS A YOUNG WOMAN,
AND SHE LOVED THAT YOUNG MAN.
AND IN HER DREAMS,
SHE MUST HAVE THOUGHT
ABOUT THIS YOUNG MAN
IN THE ARMS
OF THAT BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL,
WATCHING HIM KISS
AND GIVE ATTENTION
AND EVENTUALLY MARRY
THE YOUNG DAMSEL.
ALSO IN HER DREAMS,
SHE MUST HAVE THOUGHT
IF THE TIGER POPS OUT
AND TEARS HER LOVER TO PIECES
AND HEARS HIS SCREAMING
AND THE FLESH BEING TORN
AND THE BLOOD GUSHING
FROM HIS WOUNDS
AND THE TIGER'S JUST
MAULING HIM,
WHAT WOULD BE BETTER?
IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THAT
YOUNG MAN
TO DIE IN THAT INSTANT,
BUT ALL THE BLOOD, THE GORE,
THE SCREAMING,
HOW TERRIBLE WOULD THAT BE?
NOW, LET ME ASK YOU...
WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT DOOR,
THE LADY OR THE TIGER?
"THE LADY OR THE TIGER"
BY FRANK STOCKTON.
MANY, MANY YEARS AGO
LIVED IN A STRANGE COUNTRY
A KING
WHO HAD DIFFERENT IDEAS
THAN MOST KINGS.
WHEREAS MOST KINGS USED
A COLOSSEUM
FOR THROWING PEOPLE SUCH
AS CHRISTIANS
TO THE LIONS
OR HAVING THEM FIGHT
EACH OTHER,
SUCH AS GLADIATORS,
THIS KING THOUGHT
OF SOMETHING BETTER,
SOMETHING MORE INTELLECTUALLY
CHALLENGING
TO THE PEOPLE IN THAT COUNTRY.
THE KING DEVISED AN ARENA
WITH ENCLOSED SEATING
AND WHEREAS ANYTIME
A PERSON WAS ARRESTED
FOR MISCONDUCT OR ACCUSED
OF A CRIME,
THE KING WOULD HAVE THAT PERSON
IN THE ARENA
AND WOULD SUMMON THE PEOPLE
TO ASSEMBLE.
AND THE KING WOULD SIT HIGH
UP ON THE THRONE.
AND IN FRONT OF THE KING
WERE TWO DOORS
JUST OPPOSITE OF HIM,
AND THEY WERE THE EXACT SAME
TWO DOORS.
BEHIND ONE DOOR
WAS A TIGER,
A FEROCIOUS BEAST,
THE MEANEST IN ALL THE LAND.
BEHIND THE SECOND DOOR
WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL.
THE PERSON WHO WAS ARRESTED
WOULD BE PLACED IN JAIL
AND THEN BROUGHT TO THE ARENA.
AND THE KING WOULD ORDER
THE PRISONER
TO CHOOSE A DOOR.
IF THE PRISONER CHOSE
THE DOOR
AND OUT CAME THE
FEROCIOUS LION,
THE PRISONER WOULD BE
TORN TO PIECES
IN AN INSTANT.
AND THAT RESULT WOULD SHOW
THAT THE PERSON
WAS GUILTY AND DESERVED
THAT APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENT.
HOWEVER, IF THE PRISONER
CHOSE THE OTHER DOOR
AND OUT CAME THE
BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL,
THAT WOULD PROVE THAT HE WAS
NOT GUILTY,
THAT HE WAS HONEST,
AND THE KING WOULD HAVE
THAT MAN FREED
AND WOULD ALLOW HIM TO MARRY
THE DAMSEL IMMEDIATELY.
THE KING WOULD EVEN HAVE
A PREACHER
READY WITH BIBLE IN HAND
TO MARRY THE TWO.
THE KING WOULD PROVIDE
A CHORUS,
ALL THE PEOPLE WOULD BE INVITED
TO A FEAST,
THE WEDDING BELLS RANG FORTH.
THAT WAS AN INTERESTING SYSTEM
OF DECIDING JUDGMENT
AND WAS VERY POPULAR
WITH THE PEOPLE
BECAUSE...
THE PRISONER WOULD HAVE
HIS OWN LIFE
IN HIS OWN HANDS
AND WOULD PROVE EITHER HE WAS
WRONG OR RIGHT,
GUILTY OR INNOCENT.
ONE DAY IT HAPPENED THAT
THE KING HAD A DAUGHTER.
SHE WAS CALLED THE PRINCESS.
WE SIGN PRINCESS.
SHE WAS QUITE BEAUTIFUL.
ONE DAY, SHE FELL IN LOVE
WITH A YOUNG MAN
WHO WAS HANDSOME AND BRAVE,
BUT THAT YOUNG MAN WAS
FROM A LOWER CLASS
OF PEOPLE, NOT A MEMBER
OF THE NOBILITY.
THE TWO OF THEM CARRIED ON
A SECRET AFFAIR
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS
UNTIL ONE DAY THE KING
FOUND OUT,
FOUND THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER
AND BECAME VERY ANGRY,
DIDN'T LIKE ANY OF
THE LOWER SUBJECTS
TO BE WITH HIS DAUGHTER.
THAT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE.
SO THE KING HAD THE YOUNG MAN
ARRESTED
AND THROWN IN JAIL.
THE DAY WAS COMING WHEN THIS
YOUNG MAN
WOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ARENA
AND WOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE
A DOOR.
THE KING SEARCHED LONG AND HARD
FOR THE MOST SAVAGE TIGER
IN THE WORLD
AND PUT THE TIGER BEHIND
ONE OF THE DOORS.
THE KING ALSO SEARCHED ALL OVER
TO FIND THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL
AND PUT HER BEHIND
THE OTHER DOOR.
IT HAPPENED THAT THE PRINCESS
WHO LOVED THAT YOUNG MAN...
SHE FOUND A WAY...
AS ALL WOMEN DO, USING THEIR
BEAUTY, INFLUENCE, AND MONEY...
SHE FOUND OUT WHO OR WHAT
WAS BEHIND EACH OF THE DOORS.
SHE FOUND THAT OUT.
SHE KNEW EXACTLY WHERE
THE DAMSEL WAS AND WHERE
THE TIGER WAS.
THE DAY ARRIVED FOR THE YOUNG
MAN TO BE BROUGHT TO THE ARENA,
AND THE KING SAT HIGH
ON HIS THRONE.
NEXT TO HIM WAS HIS DAUGHTER.
AND THE PEOPLE,
THE THRONGS OF PEOPLE
MADE THEIR WAY INTO
THE COLOSSEUM,
TAKING THEIR SEATS TO OBSERVE
WHICH DOOR
THE YOUNG MAN WOULD CHOOSE.
NOW, THE PEOPLE HAD HEARD ABOUT
THE SECRET LOVE AFFAIR
AND ABOUT THE PRINCESS'
YOUNG MAN,
SO MANY OF THEM WANTED TO PAY
WITNESS TO THIS EVENT.
THE YOUNG MAN CAME OUT
AND WALKED INTO THE CENTER
OF THE ARENA.
AND THE PEOPLE STARED,
AND THEY SAID, "WHAT A NICE,
HANDSOME, TALL YOUNG MAN."
AND THE PEOPLE GOSSIPED.
THEY WERE NOT SURPRISED
THAT THE PRINCESS
HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH HIM.
AND SO THE YOUNG MAN
STOOD IN THE CENTER OF THE ARENA
AND BOWED TO THE KING.
AND AT THE SAME TIME,
HE LOOKED OVER AT
THE KING'S DAUGHTER,
HIS SWEETHEART.
AND HE KNEW THAT SHE MUST HAVE
FOUND OUT
THE SECRET AS TO WHICH WAS
BEHIND EACH
OF THE TWO DOORS.
AND THEY STARED
AT EACH OTHER.
THE PRINCESS WAS THINKING.
SHE KNEW WHAT WAS BEHIND
THE DOORS.
SHE KNEW WHERE THE TIGER WAS
AND WHERE THE DAMSEL WAS.
AND SHE KNEW THAT THIS
BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL
HAD ONCE HAD AN INTEREST
IN THAT YOUNG MAN.
AND SO SHE SAT THERE
WITH HER ARM ON THE PARAPET,
STARING BELOW.
AND THE YOUNG MAN CONTINUED
TO LOOK TO SEE
IF SHE WOULD GIVE HIM
AN INDICATION
AS TO WHICH DOOR
HE SHOULD CHOOSE.
AND SHE GESTURED WITH
HER RIGHT HAND,
POINTING TO A DOOR
AND SMILING.
AND THE YOUNG MAN KNEW
AT THAT INSTANT
THAT NONE OF THE PEOPLE
IN THE STANDS
SAW THIS EXCHANGE,
WHAT THE PRINCESS HAD DONE.
AND SO SHE GESTURED
AND SMILED.
AND THE YOUNG MAN NODDED
AND WALKED TO THE RIGHT DOOR
AND OPENED THE DOOR.
NOW, THE QUESTION FOR YOU--
WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT DOOR?
WAS IT THE TIGER
OR WAS IT THE LADY?
THE LADY OR THE TIGER?
YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT
THE PRINCESS
WAS A YOUNG WOMAN,
AND SHE LOVED THAT YOUNG MAN.
AND IN HER DREAMS,
SHE MUST HAVE THOUGHT
ABOUT THIS YOUNG MAN
IN THE ARMS
OF THAT BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL,
WATCHING HIM KISS
AND GIVE ATTENTION
AND EVENTUALLY MARRY
THE YOUNG DAMSEL.
ALSO IN HER DREAMS,
SHE MUST HAVE THOUGHT
IF THE TIGER POPS OUT
AND TEARS HER LOVER TO PIECES
AND HEARS HIS SCREAMING
AND THE FLESH BEING TORN
AND THE BLOOD GUSHING
FROM HIS WOUNDS
AND THE TIGER'S JUST
MAULING HIM,
WHAT WOULD BE BETTER?
IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THAT
YOUNG MAN
TO DIE IN THAT INSTANT,
BUT ALL THE BLOOD, THE GORE,
THE SCREAMING,
HOW TERRIBLE WOULD THAT BE?
NOW, LET ME ASK YOU...
WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT DOOR,
THE LADY OR THE TIGER?
transcript
MAN: "THE LADY OR THE TIGER."
"THE LADY OR THE TIGER"
BY FRANK STOCKTON.
MANY, MANY YEARS AGO
LIVED IN A STRANGE COUNTRY
A KING
WHO HAD DIFFERENT IDEAS
THAN MOST KINGS.
WHEREAS MOST KINGS USED
A COLOSSEUM
FOR THROWING PEOPLE SUCH
AS CHRISTIANS
TO THE LIONS
OR HAVING THEM FIGHT
EACH OTHER,
SUCH AS GLADIATORS,
THIS KING THOUGHT
OF SOMETHING BETTER,
SOMETHING MORE INTELLECTUALLY
CHALLENGING
TO THE PEOPLE IN THAT COUNTRY.
THE KING DEVISED AN ARENA
WITH ENCLOSED SEATING
AND WHEREAS ANYTIME
A PERSON WAS ARRESTED
FOR MISCONDUCT OR ACCUSED
OF A CRIME,
THE KING WOULD HAVE THAT PERSON
IN THE ARENA
AND WOULD SUMMON THE PEOPLE
TO ASSEMBLE.
AND THE KING WOULD SIT HIGH
UP ON THE THRONE.
AND IN FRONT OF THE KING
WERE TWO DOORS
JUST OPPOSITE OF HIM,
AND THEY WERE THE EXACT SAME
TWO DOORS.
BEHIND ONE DOOR
WAS A TIGER,
A FEROCIOUS BEAST,
THE MEANEST IN ALL THE LAND.
BEHIND THE SECOND DOOR
WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL.
THE PERSON WHO WAS ARRESTED
WOULD BE PLACED IN JAIL
AND THEN BROUGHT TO THE ARENA.
AND THE KING WOULD ORDER
THE PRISONER
TO CHOOSE A DOOR.
IF THE PRISONER CHOSE
THE DOOR
AND OUT CAME THE
FEROCIOUS LION,
THE PRISONER WOULD BE
TORN TO PIECES
IN AN INSTANT.
AND THAT RESULT WOULD SHOW
THAT THE PERSON
WAS GUILTY AND DESERVED
THAT APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENT.
HOWEVER, IF THE PRISONER
CHOSE THE OTHER DOOR
AND OUT CAME THE
BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL,
THAT WOULD PROVE THAT HE WAS
NOT GUILTY,
THAT HE WAS HONEST,
AND THE KING WOULD HAVE
THAT MAN FREED
AND WOULD ALLOW HIM TO MARRY
THE DAMSEL IMMEDIATELY.
THE KING WOULD EVEN HAVE
A PREACHER
READY WITH BIBLE IN HAND
TO MARRY THE TWO.
THE KING WOULD PROVIDE
A CHORUS,
ALL THE PEOPLE WOULD BE INVITED
TO A FEAST,
THE WEDDING BELLS RANG FORTH.
THAT WAS AN INTERESTING SYSTEM
OF DECIDING JUDGMENT
AND WAS VERY POPULAR
WITH THE PEOPLE
BECAUSE...
THE PRISONER WOULD HAVE
HIS OWN LIFE
IN HIS OWN HANDS
AND WOULD PROVE EITHER HE WAS
WRONG OR RIGHT,
GUILTY OR INNOCENT.
ONE DAY IT HAPPENED THAT
THE KING HAD A DAUGHTER.
SHE WAS CALLED THE PRINCESS.
WE SIGN PRINCESS.
SHE WAS QUITE BEAUTIFUL.
ONE DAY, SHE FELL IN LOVE
WITH A YOUNG MAN
WHO WAS HANDSOME AND BRAVE,
BUT THAT YOUNG MAN WAS
FROM A LOWER CLASS
OF PEOPLE, NOT A MEMBER
OF THE NOBILITY.
THE TWO OF THEM CARRIED ON
A SECRET AFFAIR
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS
UNTIL ONE DAY THE KING
FOUND OUT,
FOUND THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER
AND BECAME VERY ANGRY,
DIDN'T LIKE ANY OF
THE LOWER SUBJECTS
TO BE WITH HIS DAUGHTER.
THAT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE.
SO THE KING HAD THE YOUNG MAN
ARRESTED
AND THROWN IN JAIL.
THE DAY WAS COMING WHEN THIS
YOUNG MAN
WOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ARENA
AND WOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE
A DOOR.
THE KING SEARCHED LONG AND HARD
FOR THE MOST SAVAGE TIGER
IN THE WORLD
AND PUT THE TIGER BEHIND
ONE OF THE DOORS.
THE KING ALSO SEARCHED ALL OVER
TO FIND THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL
AND PUT HER BEHIND
THE OTHER DOOR.
IT HAPPENED THAT THE PRINCESS
WHO LOVED THAT YOUNG MAN...
SHE FOUND A WAY...
AS ALL WOMEN DO, USING THEIR
BEAUTY, INFLUENCE, AND MONEY...
SHE FOUND OUT WHO OR WHAT
WAS BEHIND EACH OF THE DOORS.
SHE FOUND THAT OUT.
SHE KNEW EXACTLY WHERE
THE DAMSEL WAS AND WHERE
THE TIGER WAS.
THE DAY ARRIVED FOR THE YOUNG
MAN TO BE BROUGHT TO THE ARENA,
AND THE KING SAT HIGH
ON HIS THRONE.
NEXT TO HIM WAS HIS DAUGHTER.
AND THE PEOPLE,
THE THRONGS OF PEOPLE
MADE THEIR WAY INTO
THE COLOSSEUM,
TAKING THEIR SEATS TO OBSERVE
WHICH DOOR
THE YOUNG MAN WOULD CHOOSE.
NOW, THE PEOPLE HAD HEARD ABOUT
THE SECRET LOVE AFFAIR
AND ABOUT THE PRINCESS'
YOUNG MAN,
SO MANY OF THEM WANTED TO PAY
WITNESS TO THIS EVENT.
THE YOUNG MAN CAME OUT
AND WALKED INTO THE CENTER
OF THE ARENA.
AND THE PEOPLE STARED,
AND THEY SAID, "WHAT A NICE,
HANDSOME, TALL YOUNG MAN."
AND THE PEOPLE GOSSIPED.
THEY WERE NOT SURPRISED
THAT THE PRINCESS
HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH HIM.
AND SO THE YOUNG MAN
STOOD IN THE CENTER OF THE ARENA
AND BOWED TO THE KING.
AND AT THE SAME TIME,
HE LOOKED OVER AT
THE KING'S DAUGHTER,
HIS SWEETHEART.
AND HE KNEW THAT SHE MUST HAVE
FOUND OUT
THE SECRET AS TO WHICH WAS
BEHIND EACH
OF THE TWO DOORS.
AND THEY STARED
AT EACH OTHER.
THE PRINCESS WAS THINKING.
SHE KNEW WHAT WAS BEHIND
THE DOORS.
SHE KNEW WHERE THE TIGER WAS
AND WHERE THE DAMSEL WAS.
AND SHE KNEW THAT THIS
BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL
HAD ONCE HAD AN INTEREST
IN THAT YOUNG MAN.
AND SO SHE SAT THERE
WITH HER ARM ON THE PARAPET,
STARING BELOW.
AND THE YOUNG MAN CONTINUED
TO LOOK TO SEE
IF SHE WOULD GIVE HIM
AN INDICATION
AS TO WHICH DOOR
HE SHOULD CHOOSE.
AND SHE GESTURED WITH
HER RIGHT HAND,
POINTING TO A DOOR
AND SMILING.
AND THE YOUNG MAN KNEW
AT THAT INSTANT
THAT NONE OF THE PEOPLE
IN THE STANDS
SAW THIS EXCHANGE,
WHAT THE PRINCESS HAD DONE.
AND SO SHE GESTURED
AND SMILED.
AND THE YOUNG MAN NODDED
AND WALKED TO THE RIGHT DOOR
AND OPENED THE DOOR.
NOW, THE QUESTION FOR YOU--
WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT DOOR?
WAS IT THE TIGER
OR WAS IT THE LADY?
THE LADY OR THE TIGER?
YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT
THE PRINCESS
WAS A YOUNG WOMAN,
AND SHE LOVED THAT YOUNG MAN.
AND IN HER DREAMS,
SHE MUST HAVE THOUGHT
ABOUT THIS YOUNG MAN
IN THE ARMS
OF THAT BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL,
WATCHING HIM KISS
AND GIVE ATTENTION
AND EVENTUALLY MARRY
THE YOUNG DAMSEL.
ALSO IN HER DREAMS,
SHE MUST HAVE THOUGHT
IF THE TIGER POPS OUT
AND TEARS HER LOVER TO PIECES
AND HEARS HIS SCREAMING
AND THE FLESH BEING TORN
AND THE BLOOD GUSHING
FROM HIS WOUNDS
AND THE TIGER'S JUST
MAULING HIM,
WHAT WOULD BE BETTER?
IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THAT
YOUNG MAN
TO DIE IN THAT INSTANT,
BUT ALL THE BLOOD, THE GORE,
THE SCREAMING,
HOW TERRIBLE WOULD THAT BE?
NOW, LET ME ASK YOU...
WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT DOOR,
THE LADY OR THE TIGER?
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