Who Is The Antagonist In Lamb To The Slaughter

Lamb to the Slaughter, written by Roald Dohl, is a short story about a couple that appears happy and is expecting their first child. This is quickly changed when the husband returns home from work one tonight to inform his wife that he is leaving her. This creates major changes in the characterization of the characters as what appears to be a loving, caring and attentive wife, turns to a vindictive murderer. A first impression, the couple is portrayed as a loving couple in which the pregnant wife, stays home to take care of the house, meals and very attentive to her husband’s needs. The husband is seen as a hardworking 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. She stays at home, takes care of the house and meals. She anticipates his arrival home from work everyday as describes this as when she is at peace and everything appears perfect. On this particular day, the author describes Patricak as being disengaged and distant. 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. Once she is told of his plan to leave, Mary’s image is changed quickly. She appears to become distracted and dreamy.
At this point, she appears to be in total control of her emotions and thoughts. She is able to develop a plan to cover us the murder. She leaves to house to go to the local butcher to buy vegetables to go the leg of lamb. 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