Lamb To The Slaughter Stereotypes

Throughout history, men and women have acquired various gender roles; however, these roles have continuously changed along side modern society. While gender based stereotypes originally led society to force each sex into disparaging tasks, such stereotypes possess preeminent ramifications extending beyond the overt ideas associated with gender roles. In his short story, Lamb to the Slaughter, Roald Dahl reveals the ignorance toward women’s abilities through his characters’ erratic behavior. Although women are often portrayed as feeble beings, Lamb to the Slaughter exposes their seemingly insignificant mannerism that creates latent power only to be utilized when necessary.

Physical demeanor is one of various attributes that contributes to

the false depiction of women’s capability. Because women are typically smaller than men, women are perceived as incompetent. Dahl portrays this through his character, Mary Maloney. As Mary Maloney eagerly awaits her husband, she prepares to greet him with love and his usual drink; however, when Mr.

Maloney walks through the door that compels her into hysterics. Mr. Maloney solemnly states, “Of course I’ll give you money and see that you’re looked after. But there needn’t really be any fuss. I hope not anyway. It wouldn’t be very good for my job.”(Dahl). His words imply that she is unable to conduct herself without the presence of a man; however, these words compelled Mary Maloney to promptly strike her husband’s head with a massive leg of lamb, killing him instantly. Although Mr. Maloney deemed his wife debilitated, she utilized her underlying strength to slaughter him. Meanwhile, the detectives work to locate the murderer and Mrs. Maloney works to remove evidence of her crime. Her physical characteristics begin to lead the detectives to believe she is innocent. Dahl states, “There was a slow smiling air about her, and about everything she did...For this was her sixth month with child.”(Dahl). Paired with her husband’s previous notions about her incompetence, the detectives’ observations provide the reader with the impression that Mrs. Maloney is ill-equipped to have committed a

murder. A woman in her sixth month of pregnancy was not expected to work let alone handle a massive object. Not unlike Mary Maloney, women of modern society encounter various situations in which their abilities are overshadowed by their physical traits. Biologically, women do not possess the physical strength that men do; however, other physical abilities become assets due to this lack of strength. Intellect is also hidden by behind the overlying weakness. Mary Maloney’s insidious plan to cover her crime revealed her intelligence but only to the reader. While the male detectives rebuked her, she proved to be an astute woman without drawing any attention to herself in the process. Men belittle women based on false principles, and women continue to bewilder men with covert knowledge.
In addition to the absence of physical strength, women consistently endure futile tasks due to the manner through which men perceive a woman’s intelligence.

Mary Maloney was confined to her house, tasked with managing the home and catering to her husband. Women at this time were expected to live solely by nurturing others because men were considered superior in terms of intelligence. While the police are searching her house, Mrs. Maloney utilizes her emotions to lead the police astray. Dahl states, “All the old love and longing for him welled up inside her, and she ran over to him, knelt down beside him, and began to cry her heart out. It was easy. No acting was necessary.”(Dahl). Men look down upon women for occupying themselves with immense emotions; however, women employ these emotion to enhance their intelligence. Mary Maloney’s plan would not have been effective if she had not been able to realistically convey her emotions. By utilizing her own grief, her impromptu performance convinced the detectives to dismiss her as a suspect. She continues to watch observe the investigation, she begins to convey that she feels sick. Dahl explains, “She didn’t feel she could move even a yard at the moment...she didn’t feel too good at the moment, she really didn't.”(Dahl). This statement regarding her ill state augments her emotional account of the events that had occurred in her house. The police speak with her in a calm manner, displaying no sign of suspicion. Women throughout

history have faced such accusations in multiple ways. When the United States Constitution was written, women were not granted rights, and today women are excluded from obtaining higher salaries.Many of the world’s most influential women utilize their emotions to create innovative solutions to the most difficult of problems. Although men view the emotional thought process as lack of intelligence, it is these emotions that cause women to utilize their utmost intellect. Intelligence may be an underlying trait in women, but it is only concealed if one perceives that it simply does not exist.
Too often than not, women in literature are presented as frail beings with little ability; however, Roald Dahl utilizes his characters to reveal the underlying power women possess. While men seek mundane facts, women seek abstract concepts in order to explain the world. Stereotypical women overshadow those who who cannot conform to such a society. Despite the status women had in the twentieth century, Mary Maloney deceived the policemen, utilizing each aspect of herself for which men looked down on. She stands as an example for women struggling to regain power they rightfully deserve.