Why did the author of the story "The Lady or the Tiger?" write the story?

What you have asked is the golden question! Why did Frank
Stockton write the short story "The Lady or the
Tiger?"

Many may find, after reading the story, that
Stockton wanted to simply anger his readers. While some may find that this is the
answer, given the story ends without closure for the reader, one can only imagine what
he purpose was.

Given that Stockton never tried to sway the
reader in any given direction, one could assume that the purpose of the story was to
create great debate and conversation.

Stockton actually
received so much negative criticism regarding the story with no ending that he wrote
"The Discourager of Hesitancy" to tie up any concerns that readers had regarding the
outcome of the young lovers fate.

In the end, an actual
reason behind author intent may never be found.  Instead, what one gets when pondering
the question is the same answer one gets with reading Stockton's story- no true
closure.