Mary Maloney Kills Essay

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When anger pervades the mind, things are said that can never be taken back and fists are flung without a conscious thought. The actions a person may commit when they’re angry is not an accurate representation of their character nor of the way that they react to everyday life. In this manner, Mary Maloney finds herself in the impossible situation of a dead husband and the murder weapon slowly defrosting in her hands. Although critics acclaim that this gentle tempered homemaker had no inclination to be a murderer which would make the plot improbable, the evidence presented by the text states that the plot was indeed set up for the murder of Mr. Maloney. Mary Maloney kills without intent but once realizing the weight of her actions, switches to …show more content…

It is common knowledge that pregnant women are prone to fits of moodiness but it would appear that Mary is in a new state of calm and happiness with the partial euphoria of a new born child. Mary is happy with the life she is living and especially happy that her husband would be home soon as she loved “the shape of his mouth and . . . the way he didn’t complain about being tired” (1). That is very important because when he sits down he says to her, “I’m thoroughly exhausted” (1). This is a signal something is very wrong. Now, critics may say that it was a mere phrase that was out of the ordinary and it proves nothing, but Mr. and Mrs. Maloney are creatures of habit. So, Mr. Maloney comes home to a pregnant wife who has worked hard all day to get the house sparkling clean for him and he tells her he is leaving her. To a pregnant women, the full force of this announcement would be much more than the effect it would have on a non-pregnant women. Mary Maloney is the type of wife that only wants to make her husband happy so it would appear that Mary Maloney is also the type of woman to hide her feelings away, even during pregnancy when her emotions are taking major dips and rises. It only takes so much before all the emotion that has been tucked explodes into drastic action, oftentimes unintentionally and without

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