Lamb To The Slaughter

Lamb To The Slaughter

Question a)
Paying close attention to the way Roald Dahl descibes the room and Mrs Maloney, show how this extract DOES NOT prepare us for the murder of Mr Maloney by Mrs Maloney.


  The atmosphere of the room was calm and peaceful. Nothing seems out of place in the setting. Roald Dahl's description of the room is particularly positive and Mary Maloney's actions show she is lovely woman.
 
  The room was particularly quiet, unlike that of a murder, which would have a kind of tension in the air. “The curtains drawn, the two table lamps alight”, show that Mary Mlaoney is on a normal routine of awaiting her husband. The “air was slow and smiling”, showing that Mary Maloney is very 'placid', her sewing 'tranquil' which stress on the fact that this is a normal wife awaiting her husband from work. By “glancing at the clock, without anxiety”, Mary Maloney is quite “pleased”, eager even to meet her husband.
 
  The room was also descibed as normal and nothing was out of the oridinary. It was “warm and clean”, with everything laid out perfectly, “two tall glasses, soda water, whiskey”, to help relieve a stressed-out-from-work husband. The room was also generally described aas positive, with Mary Maloney quietly enjoying it for she was calm and “had acquired a wonderful translucent quality” that showed she was relaxed.

  Mary Maloney's actions are also that of those of a devoted, loving wife. Knowing her husband's time of arrival, she is ready with 'whiskey' in “two tall glasses” that can show she is caring. “Looking at the clock without anxiety” merely proves she is trustworthy of her husband, as she patiently sews, eaqgerly wanting to see him again. She also listens for him, greeting him with “a kiss” that shows her love. Making a strong whiskey for her husband only shows how well she understands him.

  In short, we have not a clue as to how this extract is related to a murder, for the room is curiously warm and...