Lamb To The Slaughter By Roald Dahl

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In the story, “Lamb to the Slaughter” written by Roald Dahl, a woman named Mary Maloney was in conflict with her husband before his death, Patrick Maloney. The setting takes place in the 1950’s primarily in the Maloney’s house. At the beginning of the story, Patrick arrives at the house and Mary has dinner planned and ready to be made for them. Patrick is acting reluctant and avoidant towards Mary. She suspects this is because of a long, tiring day at work. After kindly offering to make him anything for dinner, he seems angry at Mrs. Maloney and refuses to eat anything she will make. Patrick Maloney than tells his wife that he does not want to be with her anymore, however she will be looked after. Trying to ignore what he had told her, Mary …show more content…

Mary tried to keep him from leaving, but her husbands’ protests overcome her request. Before Patrick could step a foot outside the door, Mary took the leg of lamb and striked him in the back of the head with the frozen lump of meat. From there, she left the house to buy food for dinner. This included peas and cheesecake for them. When she arrived at the house, she set up a scene for the “murder” of Patrick Maloney. She knocked over several tables, dropped the bag on the ground, and shuffled household decorations around to set up the scene for the murder. Afterwards, she dials the police and soon later, about five or six men come into the house to investigate. A few detectives, an officer, a reporter, and a crime scene photographer. As night rolls around, Mary asks the detectives and officers if they are at all hungry. Mary offers them the lamb that has been cooked. They are a bit hesitant because it is not necessarily allowed nor is it prohibited, but they decide to eat it as doing Mary a favor. As they eat, they insist they eat all of it to satisfy Mary. As they are eating, they discuss what might have happened to Patrick and where the evidence might

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