Is Mary Maloney A Sympathetic Character

1) Would lie to save yourself from punishment , or tell the truth regardless of the consequence?

If, someday, I committed a horrible crime and was going to be punished for it I would definitely lie to save myself. I might tell the truth if I was being eaten by guilt and didn’t care about anything anymore, but definitely if I didn’t care very much. If anybody says they would tell the truth, I’m sure if something really happened they would lie too. It’s human nature to want to survive and thrive, and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to stay out of prison or not get the death penalty. In a real situation, where I would die if I were found guilty of your crime, I would definitely lie to save myself.

3) Choose either “Cask” or “Lamb,” find

at least three examples of foreshadowing that hinted towards the tragic ending. Explain your examples. (I chose to write about “Lamb”)

In “A Lamb to Slaughter” there is lots of foreshadowing, even in the beginning of the story, that hinted towards the tragic ending. For example, “She loves to luxuriate in the presence of this man, and feel- almost as a sunbather feels the sun- the warm male glow that came out of him to her when they were alone together. She loved him for the was he sat loosely in a chair, for the way he came in a door, or moved slowly across the room in long strides.” page 1. This scene sounds very loving, in an almost creepy way. Looking past the creepy loving tone, Roald Dahl might be hinting at a tragic future, by making things seem overly perfect at one movement. Another example of foreshadowing is: “She watched him sip the dark yellow drink, and she could see little oily swirls in the liquid because it was so strong.” page 1. This quote is obvious foreshadowing to something happening between Mr. and Mrs. Maloney. When someone is drinking strong alcohol, something is definitely bugging them (at least in stories.) One more piece of evidence that suggests a dark future is, in the story, Mr. Maloney kept saying that he didn't want dinner, or food, or anything from Mrs. Maloney. This hinted that Mr. Maloney was angry at Mrs. Maloney, or that he didn’t want to see her.

4) Is Mary Maloney and/or Montresor a sympathetic character?

What evidence is there to support you claim? (I chose to write about Mary)

Mary Maloney, in “A Lamb to Slaughter,” can be called a sympathetic character. Since Mary is the protagonist of the story she is, almost by definition, a sympathetic character. Even if doesn’t behave like a traditional protagonist, her actions and traits leave the reader sympathizing with her. In the story, the first two pages tell how much she loves her husband, and then shows her husband breaking her heart. Even, as readers, we know what she did was wrong, we still sympathize with her because we almost feel as if her actions were justified.

7) You will be placed on either defense or prosecution. Respond according to your placement. (I am prosecution)

Mary Maloney is guilty of murder. Even if she did commit her crime while temporarily insane, she still must serve a lengthy prison sentence. Temporary insanity is no excuse to not go to prison for murder, murder is murder and Mary Maloney committed it. Somebody as dangerous as Mary Maloney cannot remain free, and around the public. If the act was a moment of temporary insanity, the Maloney is very dangerous. That “temporary” insanity could easily emerge again, and Maloney could harm another innocent member of the public. Maloney’s husband, the reason for her moment of insanity, legally, did nothing wrong. Maloney’s harm to him has no legal justification. As for the fetus, it has no effect on whether she will go to prison or not. Pregnant criminals are treated the same way ordinary prisoners, they don’t get a get out of jail free card just because they’re

pregnant.