The Lady, The Man, And The Liger?

I was recently listening to the "Little Lion Man" song and in my brain, that was a relatively short jump to "The Lady, Or The Tiger?" I kind of thought the story was something more along the lines of "The Man And The Lion," but I guess that would give away the ending, huh? Anyway, you probably know the story. The king finds out about his daughter's lover and puts him on trial. The suitor is placed in an arena and must pick one of two doors--one reveals a beautiful lady (that the princess hates) that he will then marry, the other reveals a vicious tiger that will tear him to pieces. The princess knows what is behind each door and on the day of the trial, she gives a signal to her lover that tells him which door to pick. That is where the story ends. The reader is left to contemplate his fate: "The more we reflect upon this question, the harder it is to answer. It involves a study of the human heart which leads us through devious mazes of passion, out of which it is difficult to find our way. Think of it, fair reader, not as if the decision of the question depended upon yourself, but upon that hot-blooded, semi-barbaric princess, her soul at a white heat beneath the combined fires of despair and jealousy. She had lost him, but who should have him?"

I don't think I fully understood the problem when I first read it in high school or whenever that was. At the time, I think I decided relatively quickly that she picked the tiger because she loved him so much that couldn't stand to see him with someone else; if she couldn't have him, no one could. The pain of losing him to death would eventually pass, but the pain of seeing him happy with someone else would linger. I realize now that is an immature and selfish kind of love, though. If she really loved him, she would want him to be happy, even if he had to be with someone else.

The biggest clue I can find that alludes to the nature or level of their relationship lies in this passage: "This royal maiden was well satisfied with her lover, for he was handsome and brave to a degree unsurpassed in all this kingdom, and she loved him with an ardor that had enough of barbarism in it to make it exceedingly warm and strong. This love affair moved on happily for many months..." Something about that "ardor," "barbarism," and "months" imply to me that this is the kind of love that burns so strong and fast in the early stages, but usually quiets down or even disappears when the newness wears off. Sure, it had the potential to blossom and mature into something deeper, but it sounds like it wasn't there yet.

I actually still think she picked the tiger, but for the reasons I just mentioned and not for the reasons I decided in high school. If she truly loved him, she would have told him to pick the lady because she wanted him to be happy, anyway.

Well, listen to me expounding on the intricacies of love...as I understand it at this very moment. I wonder how much it will change in another 10 years. All I know is my understanding is ever-evolving. Such is life.