The Chinese of traditional times often portray the tiger as righteous. Like the lion in the West, even when the tiger appears as an archetype of ferocity, its behavior is often in accordance with traditional virtue, which leads the Chinese to interpret the tiger's behavior towards humans as Heaven's just treatment of them.This understanding of the tiger as righteous leads to legends that portray tigers as involved in requital and fate. Where it plays a role in requital, it repays the good or bad deeds of humans. As a symbol of destiny, the tiger arouses differing reactions: some stories portray people successfully resisting it, where others suggest that such resistance is futile. Finally, tigers serve to signal a happier fate, often uniting spouses.