"Lamb to the Slaughter" is a short story written by Roald Dahl that explores the themes of betrayal and manipulation. The story follows Mary Maloney, a devoted housewife and mother, who kills her husband Patrick with a frozen leg of lamb after discovering that he is planning to leave her.
The title "Lamb to the Slaughter" refers to the weapon that Mary uses to kill Patrick and can be interpreted in several ways. On a literal level, it refers to the fact that Mary uses a leg of lamb as the murder weapon. On a metaphorical level, it could be interpreted as a reference to the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac, in which Abraham is commanded by God to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test of faith. In this context, the lamb represents Patrick and the act of killing him with the lamb symbolizes Mary's willingness to blindly follow her husband's wishes, even if it means committing a violent act.
However, the story takes an unexpected turn when the police arrive to investigate Patrick's disappearance. Mary, who is initially devastated and grief-stricken, quickly shifts into a state of calm and control. She manipulates the police officers into believing that Patrick has simply gone out for a walk and serves them the leg of lamb that she used to kill him. By presenting the lamb as a delicious meal, Mary is able to distract the officers from their investigation and cover up the murder.
The theme of manipulation is central to the story and is exemplified through Mary's actions. Despite being a seemingly submissive and obedient wife, Mary is able to manipulate the police officers and cover up the murder with her calm and collected demeanor. This theme can also be seen in Patrick's manipulation of Mary, as he uses his position of power and authority in their relationship to control her and ultimately betray her by leaving.
Overall, "Lamb to the Slaughter" is a compelling story that explores the complexities of power dynamics in relationships and the ways in which individuals can use manipulation to achieve their goals.
Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl
No acting was Necessary. I hope you won't blame me too much. Cleverly incorporating kernels of truth into her story, Mary is able to deceive the police, who fail to suspect her as the real culprit. By eating the lamb, the men destroy the evidence of the murder. Sergeant Noonan notices that the lamb is still in the oven and offers to turn it off for her. Mary establishes her alibi by deceiving Sam, claiming that she is cooking dinner in order to maintain a façade of domestic happiness.
Lamb to the Slaughter Summary & Analysis
She also refers to her husband by name for the first time in the story. Contrary to their usual ritual, the husband downs half his glass in one swallow and goes to get more, ordering Mary to sit down when she tries to help him. Mary tries to sympathize with the difficulty of his job as a detective, but he ignores her. Mary does what she can to maintain pretense of innocence. Mary repeatedly asks her husband if he would like something to eat, offering suggestions and insisting that he eat. After some hesitation, the men agree and go into the kitchen to eat the lamb.
He refuses every time, telling her again to sit down when she gets up to fetch the food. Offers to get 2nd drink. Mary exercises her power by asking a favor of the men. It is late, and they are now tired, frustrated, and hungry. That the murderer would want to dispose of the weapon quickly - they were right.
This was disrupted with the announcement of separation. Mary asks Sergeant Jack Noonan for a drink, and he complies, pouring her a glass of whiskey. Whereas Mary had put so much energy into pleasing her husband, only to be rejected, now it is Mary who is refusing the efforts of the policemen who attempt to comfort her. Mary utilizes this new power by persuading the men to drink on the job, subtly undermining their credibility and objectivity. More policemen, a doctor, a photographer, and a fingerprint expert arrive, asking Mary questions but also treating her kindly. No acting was necessary.
When he returns, his glass has even more whiskey than before. The power imbalance between Mary and her husband is further skewed by her view of him as almost godlike. How does it affect the response to the main character? After nearly three hours of searching, the four remaining policemen have had no success finding the weapon. The rest of the men are also persuaded to have a drink, and though they are uncomfortable, they try to console Mary. Still crying, Mary tells them that she went out to the grocer and came back to find him dead.
