Lamb To The Slaughter By Roald Dahl
In “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl, the author illustrates the theme of don’t judge a book by it’s cover through his masterful use of plot, characterization, and dramatic irony.
In “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl, Mrs. Maloney is a housewife who caters to her husband, Patrick Maloney. One day Mr. Maloney comes home acting strangely. Mrs. Maloney tries to make him feel better but it doesn’t work. Mr. Maloney tells his wife something that makes her so mad, she kills him. She covers up her tracks by putting the leg of lamb(murder weapon) in the oven and going to the store, so it seemed like she wasn’t home when the murder happened. Then she calls the police and reports her husband's murder. The police and detectives come and investigate
her house, but find no traces of the weapon or the murderer. Once the detectives are about to leave, Mrs. Maloney offers the detectives the lamb and they eat it.
The theme of this story is don’t judge a book by its cover. This is shown through Mrs. Maloney, by making her look innocent to the detectives, but in reality, she is a killer. When the detectives questioned the grocer, the grocer described Mrs. Maloney as the least possible suspect. “...acted quite normal...very cheerful...wanted to give him a good supper...peas...cheesecake...impossible that she…” (Page 4, Dahl). This shows that they think she is the most innocent person when it comes to this murder.
Mrs. Maloney looks like your stereotypical 50’s housewife. “There was a slow smiling air about her, and about everything she did. The drop of the head as she bent over her sewing was curiously tranquil. Her skin-for this was her sixth month with child-had acquired a wonderful translucent quality, the mouth was soft, and the eyes with their placid look, seemed larger darker than before.”(Page 1, Dahl). This makes her seem really innocent and that she would never hurt her husband, but in reality, she is a killer.
After Mrs. Maloney killed her husband, she created an alibi and rehearses the conversation she might have with the grocer. “She sat down before the mirror, tidied her hair, touched up her lips and face. She tried a smile. It came out rather peculiar. She tried again. ‘“Hullo Sam,” she said brightly aloud. The voice sounded peculiar too.’” I want some potatoes please, Sam. Yes, and I think a can of peas.”’...She rehearsed it several times more.”(Page 2-3, Dahl). This shows how calculating and conniving Mrs. Maloney is.
The author uses dramatic irony when the detectives eat the lamb, and we know it is the murder weapon, but they don’t. ‘“Probably right under our very noses. What you think, Jack?”’(Page 5, Dahl). This shows that Mrs. Maloney tricks the detectives into unknowingly dispose of the murder weapon.
Personally, I enjoyed “Lamb to the Slaughter.” I thought it had an excellent plot and great use of irony. Another thing I liked about the story was the use of irony in the title. Another thing I like about the story is that they describe Mrs. Maloney very well.The author makes it so you could almost picture her right in front of you. Lastly, my favorite thing about the story is the theme. I think it is a good universal truth.
In conclusion, Dahl uses plot characterization, and dramatic irony to demonstrate the theme of don’t judge a book by it’s cover in “Lamb to the Slaughter.”
In “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl, Mrs. Maloney is a housewife who caters to her husband, Patrick Maloney. One day Mr. Maloney comes home acting strangely. Mrs. Maloney tries to make him feel better but it doesn’t work. Mr. Maloney tells his wife something that makes her so mad, she kills him. She covers up her tracks by putting the leg of lamb(murder weapon) in the oven and going to the store, so it seemed like she wasn’t home when the murder happened. Then she calls the police and reports her husband's murder. The police and detectives come and investigate
her house, but find no traces of the weapon or the murderer. Once the detectives are about to leave, Mrs. Maloney offers the detectives the lamb and they eat it.
The theme of this story is don’t judge a book by its cover. This is shown through Mrs. Maloney, by making her look innocent to the detectives, but in reality, she is a killer. When the detectives questioned the grocer, the grocer described Mrs. Maloney as the least possible suspect. “...acted quite normal...very cheerful...wanted to give him a good supper...peas...cheesecake...impossible that she…” (Page 4, Dahl). This shows that they think she is the most innocent person when it comes to this murder.
Mrs. Maloney looks like your stereotypical 50’s housewife. “There was a slow smiling air about her, and about everything she did. The drop of the head as she bent over her sewing was curiously tranquil. Her skin-for this was her sixth month with child-had acquired a wonderful translucent quality, the mouth was soft, and the eyes with their placid look, seemed larger darker than before.”(Page 1, Dahl). This makes her seem really innocent and that she would never hurt her husband, but in reality, she is a killer.
After Mrs. Maloney killed her husband, she created an alibi and rehearses the conversation she might have with the grocer. “She sat down before the mirror, tidied her hair, touched up her lips and face. She tried a smile. It came out rather peculiar. She tried again. ‘“Hullo Sam,” she said brightly aloud. The voice sounded peculiar too.’” I want some potatoes please, Sam. Yes, and I think a can of peas.”’...She rehearsed it several times more.”(Page 2-3, Dahl). This shows how calculating and conniving Mrs. Maloney is.
The author uses dramatic irony when the detectives eat the lamb, and we know it is the murder weapon, but they don’t. ‘“Probably right under our very noses. What you think, Jack?”’(Page 5, Dahl). This shows that Mrs. Maloney tricks the detectives into unknowingly dispose of the murder weapon.
Personally, I enjoyed “Lamb to the Slaughter.” I thought it had an excellent plot and great use of irony. Another thing I liked about the story was the use of irony in the title. Another thing I like about the story is that they describe Mrs. Maloney very well.The author makes it so you could almost picture her right in front of you. Lastly, my favorite thing about the story is the theme. I think it is a good universal truth.
In conclusion, Dahl uses plot characterization, and dramatic irony to demonstrate the theme of don’t judge a book by it’s cover in “Lamb to the Slaughter.”