“The decisions of this tribunal were not only fair, they were positively determinate: the accused person was instantly punished if he found himself guilty, and, if innocent, he was rewarded on the spot, whether he liked it or not. There was no escape from the judgments of the king's arena.”

At the outset of the story, the narrator introduces the stakes of each trial, noting that the decisions of each trial are immutable, and that guilt or innocence is decided by chance alone. Setting the general stakes early on will help develop the action of the story in the specifics of the lover’s trial. The reader now knows how this kingdom operates, and what is at stake of each accused person. When the young man is later introduced, it’s understood that he will have to undergo such a trial and suffer the outcome, whatever it may be.

“This, of course, was an especially important occasion, and his majesty, as well as all the people, was greatly interested in the workings and development of this trial. Never before had such a case occurred; never before had a subject dared to love the daughter of the king.”

In the rising action of the story, a youth of low standing is found to be the lover of the king’s daughter. According to custom, this demands a trial in the usual fashion. But a crime of this kind has never been committed in the kingdom before, so the king takes a special interest in the case. This does not mean the process by which the trial takes place will change. This rule of law is immutable, and the youth must stand trial by pure chance as all other criminals do.

“No matter how the affair turned out, the youth would be disposed of, and the king would take an aesthetic pleasure in watching the course of events, which would determine whether or not the young man had done wrong in allowing himself to love the princess.”

Though the king takes special interest in the case of his daughter’s lover, he is unbothered by the outcome of the trial. Either way, he will be happy. If the young man dies, his problem is solved. If the young man lives, he will be married to another woman, and again, the king’s problem is solved. So, for the king, there are very low stakes in the trial.

“Her right arm lay on the cushioned parapet before her. She raised her hand, and made a slight, quick movement toward the right. No one but her lover saw her. Every eye but his was fixed on the man in the arena.”

At the height of the climax, the princess gives her lover a slight signal to direct him toward which door to open. Though the reader does not know what is behind the door on the right, it is apparent that the signal is received by the princess’s lover. This small action subverts the king’s idea of justice, because the trial is no longer up to chance, but the outcome is uncertain due to the princess’s despair and jealousy. Will she choose death or life for her lover? The choice is left unknown to the reader at the close of the story.