How Does Dahl Use Irony In Lamb To The Slaughter
Pathetically innocent, brutally ironic, and terribly funny Lamb to the slaughter is a story which reveals the savagery that lurks inside of all civilized people and the suddenness with which it can emerge.
Like fat melting in a pan, Lamb to the Slaughter has a smooth and natural feel to it. The way that the story depicts Mrs. Maloney actually makes the reader feel sympathetic towards her, regardless of her actions. To the reader it seems obvious that Mrs. Maloney has been mistreated. The husband knows that his news will hurt his wife, but he assumes that she will act in the same submissive manner that she always has; it never occurs to him that she might lash out.
Dahl’s writing seems effortless and demonstrates his sense of irony and black …show more content…
Dahl chooses to use descriptive details and words to add to the irony of the overall story. With her “large, dark, placid eyes (insert 2252)” Mary is shown as an innocent and harmless doe, and “throughout the story, words such as ‘simple,’ ‘easy,’ ‘normal,’ and ‘natural’ acquire an ironic overtone (insert 2252).” The story throws everything into question. There is no “normal.” Normal is just what ices over the top of abnormal and covers up the insanity going on beneath the surface; “beneath this world are strange forces that can invest...innocent scenes with grotesque meaning (insert 2252).” For example, the police officers who investigate Patrick’s murder are convinced by Mary to eat a leg of lamb. The scene appears innocent enough, but the truth is that are they unwittingly disposing of their only piece of potential evidence and participating in the cover-up for their friend’s murder (insert …show more content…
120-28.
Elisabeth Piedmont-Marlon, Critical essay on “Lamb to the Slaughter.” Short Stories for Students, Gale, 1998. P. 134-135
James Kelly, Critical essay on “Lamb to the Slaughter.” edited by Kathleen Wilson and Mari
Lazzari, vol. 4, Gale, 1998, pp. 130-134. Originally published as "With Waves of
Tension," in The New York Times Book Review, November 8, 1953
“Lamb to the Slaughter.” Short Stories for Students, edited by Kathleen Wilson and
Marie Lazzari, vol. 4, Gale 1998, p. 123-130.
Thomas Bertonneau. Critical essay on “Lamb to the Slaughter.” Short Stories for Students, edited by Kathleen Wilson and Marie Lazzari, vol. 4, Gale, 1998, p. 130-134.
Anthony J. Bernardo,
Like fat melting in a pan, Lamb to the Slaughter has a smooth and natural feel to it. The way that the story depicts Mrs. Maloney actually makes the reader feel sympathetic towards her, regardless of her actions. To the reader it seems obvious that Mrs. Maloney has been mistreated. The husband knows that his news will hurt his wife, but he assumes that she will act in the same submissive manner that she always has; it never occurs to him that she might lash out.
Dahl’s writing seems effortless and demonstrates his sense of irony and black …show more content…
Dahl chooses to use descriptive details and words to add to the irony of the overall story. With her “large, dark, placid eyes (insert 2252)” Mary is shown as an innocent and harmless doe, and “throughout the story, words such as ‘simple,’ ‘easy,’ ‘normal,’ and ‘natural’ acquire an ironic overtone (insert 2252).” The story throws everything into question. There is no “normal.” Normal is just what ices over the top of abnormal and covers up the insanity going on beneath the surface; “beneath this world are strange forces that can invest...innocent scenes with grotesque meaning (insert 2252).” For example, the police officers who investigate Patrick’s murder are convinced by Mary to eat a leg of lamb. The scene appears innocent enough, but the truth is that are they unwittingly disposing of their only piece of potential evidence and participating in the cover-up for their friend’s murder (insert …show more content…
120-28.
Elisabeth Piedmont-Marlon, Critical essay on “Lamb to the Slaughter.” Short Stories for Students, Gale, 1998. P. 134-135
James Kelly, Critical essay on “Lamb to the Slaughter.” edited by Kathleen Wilson and Mari
Lazzari, vol. 4, Gale, 1998, pp. 130-134. Originally published as "With Waves of
Tension," in The New York Times Book Review, November 8, 1953
“Lamb to the Slaughter.” Short Stories for Students, edited by Kathleen Wilson and
Marie Lazzari, vol. 4, Gale 1998, p. 123-130.
Thomas Bertonneau. Critical essay on “Lamb to the Slaughter.” Short Stories for Students, edited by Kathleen Wilson and Marie Lazzari, vol. 4, Gale, 1998, p. 130-134.
Anthony J. Bernardo,