Lamb To The Slaughter Characters

“Lamb to the Slaughter”, written by Roald Dahl, is a short story about a seemingly normal couple that appears happy and is expecting their first child. Patrick is a police officer who works long hours. Mary, his wife, stays at home. There is nothing in the beginning of this story that portrays her as an extraordinary character. She appears to be a simple, loving and caring. This image quickly changes when her husband returns home from work one night to inform her that he is leaving her. This creates major changes in the characterization of the character of Mary, from the loving, caring and simple wife, into a vindictive murderer. Characterization of Patrick is less described except when he returns home that night to inform his wife of his intent to leave. At first impression, the couple is portrayed as a loving couple. Patrick works as a police officer and Mary, who is currently pregnant, stays home to take care of the house, meals and very attentive to her husband’s needs. The husband is seen as a hard working police officer who has a rigid routine when he returns home. At the surface, it appears that the couple is happy. The author
describes things about Patrick as seen by his wife. Mary describes their time together and “satisfying’ and “enjoying his company”, (Dahl, page 1). She anticipates his arrival home from work every day, describing this time as “this was always a wonderful time of day”, (Dahl, page 1). She seems to be at peace and everything appears perfect. It is described that she “loved the warmth that came out of him when they were alone together”(Dahl, page 1). On this particular day, the author describes Patrick as being disengaged and distant. This appears to be where the characterization of Patrick is being changed. Ordinarily, he would sip his drink while relaxing. This day was different. Mary quickly picks up on these indicators and starts to try to make things right. She does not know exactly what is bothering her husband. She has been waiting for her husband in a calm, “but without anxiety manner” all afternoon and suddenly, all of this changes within moments of his arrival. He appears irritable and snappy in his responses to her such as “Sit down”, “I don’t want it”, and “forget it”, (Dahl, page 1). Once he tells her of his plan to leave, Mary’s image is changed quickly. Consequently, Mary appears to become distracted and dreamy. The reason for him leaving is never revealed in the story. Mary immediately begins to change her behavior. She seems to be in a fog, “she couldn’t feel her feet touching the floor”, (Dahl, page 2), as she is trying to comprehend what has just happened to her once “seemingly” happy home. While experiencing these emotions, she goes to the kitchen and starts to put together a dinner for them. She seems to be trying to forget what has happened or pretend it never happened. Mary appears to be in a state of shock. After removing the meat from the freezer, she enters the room where Patrick is standing, he states he won’t be eating. Unexpectedly and immediately, she hits him in the back of the head with the piece of meat. This is the same wife who is described earlier as being so in love. There is no indication that she was planning this attack. However, from the lack of emotion, it appears to be a bigger scheme. Her thoughts of “So I’ve killed him”, (Dahl, page 2) seems unremorseful. She immediately starts to put a plan together to cover the violent attack. After the death, Mary’s image is changed once again. At this point, she appears to be in total control of her emotions and thoughts. She is able to develop a plan to cover the murder. She takes the time to finish preparing the meat, regain her composure by fixing her makeup and practicing her smile. She leaves to house to go to the local butcher to buy vegetables to go the leg of lamb, still thinking of how she will respond upon returning to the house. Moreover, she even talks to the butcher (Sam) as if she is still trying to please her husband by cooking dinner since he is tired and accepts the suggestion of buying him his favorite dessert. Nevertheless, there is no indication that the butcher detects any change in her behavior. When she returns home, she is able to show appropriate emotion when she finds her husband dead. She calls the local police department in which Patrick works. The officers that come to investigate the death view her as a friend. It does not appear those suspect her, although they do ask her many questions. During the investigation, Mary displays evidence of being distraught by crying. It appears she used her friendship with them to convince them of her innocence. She offered them drinks to make them more comfortable and show hospitality, which seems unusual at a time like this. Her entire act while at the butcher, returning home, calling the department and greeting the officers, seems well rehearsed. After hours of investigating, Mary, which appears more calm now.
She again, uses her friendship and is able to convince them to eat. Little do they know, they are actually eating the murder weapon. Mary seems to consider herself clever when she hears the detectives talking about how the weapon must be near the house, how strong the murderer must have been and specifically when the referred to the weapon as being “right under our nose”, (Dahl, page 4). The transformation of Mary, as being the simple, loving and caring, wife and expectant mother, has the reader question what may have happened to this character. How could she change so fast? Was it the news that her husband had given her on the day he arrived home from work, or was this the act of a vindictive and well contemplated
murderer?