| They Might Be Giants – The Lady and the Tiger Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Two thoughts on the above: I think the most striking thing about this song is how it takes two characters who are essentially objects in the dilemma, and makes them the central characters in the story. The conflict then becomes how the arrangement is pretty positive for the Tiger (who assumes that he'll eventually get to eat or just starve to death), and pretty lousy for the Lady (who either languishes in boredom or becomes the objectified wife). I think the purpose of the laser eyes does go beyond the typical TMBG's whimsy though. In a way, the revelation that the woman has this ability creates a dark mirror to the Princess' dilemma: the Lady can either continue her unhappy existence, where she waits for either someone to eventually open the door and treated as a prize or just languishes in infinite boredom, OR she can use her secret destructive power to bring an end to the torturous wait, in the process also killing herself. The crux of the dilemma is which is better, seeming infinite misery or the unknown consequences of death? And just like Stockton, Linnell refuses to answer the question for you, instead backing out of the story and leaving the resolution to hang forever. |
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