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Many children’s stories in Stockton’s time had clear morals, similar to Aesop’s fables, and were meant to instill a moral code in young people. However, Stockton’s work deviated from that norm, and his stories possessed a certain kind of ambiguity. No story more embodied this style than “The Lady, or the Tiger?” Since the story lacks a classic resolution, no traditional moral could be assigned to it. The character of the princess is also called into question. Is she a typically lawful character, or is she barbaric? The question remains unanswered in the story.

Stockton has been compared to Mark Twain for his stylistic approach and humorous storytelling. Stockton often portrayed characters with major flaws and inconsistencies. The king, in this story, embodies a sort of moral ambiguity. On the one hand, he rules his kingdom in an orderly fashion. On the other, he is barbaric in his rule. He allows chance alone to decide guilt or innocence. Surely such a man cannot be seen as a role model of any sort, but rather a curious character in an even more curious tale. Stockton and Twain were both part of an American movement of storytelling that deviated from traditional “moral” tales.

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