Lamb to the Slaughter

Lamb to the Slaughter

In the short story, lamb to the slaughter by Roald Dahl, Dahl uses the literary

Device of dramatic irony, foreshadowing, and imagery to depict a dark comedy by

Grasping the idea of a tragedy becoming Humorous. We are introduced to a docile,

Pregnant wife, Mary Maloney, Who was anticipating her husband’s return from

Work? Her husband returned home and refused any offers from her. He finally broke

The News to her, informing her, his decision to divorce her. Mary Maloney

Killed him with a leg of lamb. She covered her tracks, by putting the leg of lamb in

The oven, by going to the grocery shops to get an alibi, and called the police. The

Police came to investigate. Mary Maloney offered the leg of lamb to the sergeants

And they literally ate and destroyed the Evidence of the murder weapons.

There are multiple uses and example of irony throughout this Short story

That relate to the idea of a dark comedy. One key quote of Dramatic irony comes

From the end of the book stating, “Personally, I think its right here on the premises.

Probably right under our very Noses. What do you think, jack? This quote here

Shows us as that the Detectives have no idea that they are actually eating the

Evidence of the Murder right then and there. Verbal irony is also represented in this

Piece of literature. When she goes to the market, she talks to the grocer and states,

No I’ve got meat, thanks. I got a nice leg of lamb, from the Freezer. This is verbal

Irony because it shows that what she is saying is Basically telling the grocer what

She used for the murder of her Husband. The irony here is amusing, knowing the

Fact that killed the Supposed love of her life and can so easily lie about it. So again,

The Verbal irony really catches the tone of the dark comedy that Dahl is trying to

Capture here. Both dramatic and verbal irony relate to each Other in the sense that

The audience feels the idea of a tragedy as something funny therefore, relating back

To the overall picture of the Piece of literate as a dark comedy.

People tend to underestimate the power of those who seem to be Weak. In

The lamb to the slaughter, there was a clear belittle of Mary’s Power. My

Interpretation of the theme is, even though the weak seem Powerless, they are able

To rise and become even more powerful than those who are strong. “She might just

As well have hit him with a steel Club. She swung the leg of lamb so hard, it had the

Strength of steel Club. Women are typically, small and not strong as men, so being

Able to strike a pace, waiting and the funny thing was that he remained Standing

There for at lest four to five second, gently swaying. Then he crashed to the carpet.

Crashed to the floor, that’s how much power she had, when driven by a strong

Anger. By power came intelligence, as Soon As Mary realized she had killed her

Husband, she was able to Device a Plan in order to ultimately get away with murder.

Don’t underestimate the weak, because sooner or later, they’ll rise to become

Powerful.

Mary Maloney seem to be in denial of her husband is leaving her. Even

Though she took just a small class of whiskey. She probably was Drunk. After the

Shock settles in that her husband is leaving her. Mary Reacted out of anger. Maybe

Because she knows she was good woman. She made sure he was comfortable

Everyday by offering to get things for Him. He on the other hand was not happy

Being with her. The Connection between irony and humor is somewhat revealed

When an Expected result of an action does not occur but is instead a surprise that

Startles us into laughter. The irony is Mary killed her husband with a leg of lamb

And had the policeman eat the evidence. The police officials will Never find the

Murder weapon. Lamb to the slaughter is a clever tale of a woman’s quick response

To a devastating situation, in which she was Unwillingly placed. Lamb to the

Slaughter proves that the weak have more power than one may think. The weak

Seem pathetic, but prove vey Powerful in the end.