This acclaimed novel features some of the greatest themes of the twentieth century, including the betrayal of Mary Maloney, human perversity, and the role of the law. As a novel of amorality, Lamb to the Slaughter focuses on human perversity, Mary Maloney, and ritual cannibalism. But the themes of the novel go beyond these central plot points.
Mary Maloney
The short story "Mary Maloney's Lamb to the Slaughter" is a dark, disturbing read. The author, Mary Maloney, portrays an unhappy housewife who is about to give birth to her first child. While she is six months pregnant, she is described as having soft skin and dark eyes. Although her husband, Patrick, is a devoted husband, she is not entirely docile and takes care of him. She offered him drinks and even brought him things he needed.
In this story, we learn that a mother tries to comfort her infant daughter and prepare her for the inevitable euthanasia of her child. Mary's lamb, named "Snow," appears in the story, as is Patrick's leg. In the novel, Patrick and Mary's marriage has been strained for a decade and Mary is unable to accept this. The police are baffled, but he tries to console Mary.
Betrayal
In Lamb to the slaughter, betrayal is a common theme throughout the story. Judith Ross kills a lamb by eating a leg. She later laughs as detectives reveal that she used the leg as a weapon, but she is fully aware that she has succeeded in her mission. Despite the obvious motive for betrayal, Judith is a likable character.
The lamb leg is the largest symbol in the story. Lambs are traditionally weak animals, and Mary was a weak character at the beginning of the story. However, she is able to use the lamb leg to kill her betraying husband. The story also explores the idea of appearance versus reality. The woman's betrayal is the first of many misunderstandings in the story.
Human perversity
The classic short story "Lamb to the Slaughter" by British author Roald Dahl tells the story of Detective Mr. Patrick and his wife, Ms. Patrick, who become the main characters of the story. The story explores themes of love and human nature. It is also a good example of how one can turn from an idle wife into a smart criminal through the power of love.
