In "The Lady, or the Tiger?" which door will the princess choose for her lover?

This is a much debated question and I am sure that there
will be other answers for you to look at, especially in the discussion postings. I will
take a different approach on this and think about the crucial element that is exploited
by Frank R. Stockton to great effect: ambiguity.

Ambiguity
is a quality that allows something to be interpreted in several different - sometimes
conflicting - ways. Ambiguity adds complexity to a story. It can make fiction seem more
like real life, where we often encounter people and events that are puzzling and
mysterious. It is ambiguity that made this story such an instant hit and has kept people
asking and pondering your question for more than a
century.

Therefore, the whole point about this story is
that there is no answer - the author is highly skillful in ensuring that there is enough
evidence to suggest that the princess could open either door rather than just going for
one - on the one hand you have her fierce devotion for her love, but on the other hand
reference is made to the "hot-blooded semibarbaric princess." As Stockton himself
says:

The more
reflect upon the question, the harder it is to
answer.

Part of the sheer
genius of this story is that it keeps us pondering and guessing, never certain of what
the princess will ever do.