Answer:
- The story shows Mary murdering her husband with a leg of lamb and getting away with it after he tells her he is leaving her.
- Mary's murder of Patrick shows that people tend to overlook the true nature of things.Mary herself is a pregnant housewife but also a calculating killer.
Step-by-step explanation:
"Lamb to the Slaughter" is a short story written by Roald Dahl. It was first published in 1953 and has since become a classic in the genre of dark humor and crime fiction. The story revolves around a woman named Mary Maloney and her husband, Patrick Maloney.
Setting:
- The story is set in a typical suburban home in the 1950s.
Characters:
- Mary Maloney: The protagonist of the story, a seemingly devoted wife to her husband, Patrick.
- Patrick Maloney: Mary's husband, a police officer who reveals some shocking news to Mary at the beginning of the story.
- The Grocer: A neighbor who visits the Maloney household after Patrick's death.
- The Detectives: Two police detectives who investigate Patrick's murder.
Plot Summary:
- The story begins with Mary Maloney waiting for her husband, Patrick, to return home from work. They seem to have a happy and loving marriage. However, Patrick arrives home and delivers a shocking announcement: he is leaving her. He tells her that he has fallen out of love with her and that he is leaving her for another woman. This news devastates Mary, and she becomes distraught.
- In a fit of anger and despair, Mary grabs a frozen leg of lamb from the freezer and strikes Patrick in the back of the head, killing him instantly. She then decides to cover up the murder by coming up with an alibi. She places the leg of lamb in the oven to roast, goes to the grocery store, and asks the grocer about buying items for dinner. She acts as if everything is normal.
- When she returns home, Mary calls the police to report her husband's murder, pretending to be shocked and horrified by the crime. The detectives arrive to investigate, and Mary offers them some of the lamb she has cooked, trying to eliminate any evidence. They eat the lamb without suspecting anything. As they discuss the murder, Mary listens to them carefully, knowing they won't find the murder weapon.
- The story ends with the detectives leaving the house, convinced that the murder weapon is somewhere nearby but unable to find it. Mary, feeling triumphant, even smiles to herself as they leave.
- "Lamb to the Slaughter" is a darkly humorous and ironic tale that explores themes of betrayal, deception, and the unexpected capacity for violence that can lie hidden beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary individuals. Mary's transformation from a meek and submissive wife into a cunning and resourceful murderer is a central element of the story's intrigue and dark humor.