Lamb

Analysis - Lamb to the Slaughter

Brief summary of story

This story is about how a distraught wife murdered her husband, who had wanted to divorce her, and how she ‘cleverly’ covered her tracks.

Plot

Introduction

We were introduced to a docile, pregnant wife, Mary Maloney, who was anticipating her husband’s return from work.

Rising action

Her husband returned home and refused any offers from her. He finally broke the news to her, informing her, his decision to divorce her.

Climax

Mary Maloney killed him with a leg of lamb.

Falling action

She covered her tracks, by putting the leg of lamb in the oven, by going to the grocery shop to get an alibi, and called the police. The police came to investigate.

Denouement

Mary Maloney offered the leg of lamb to the sergeants and they literally ate/destroyed the evidence/ murder weapon.

Setting

Place :

A warm and clean room, with drawn curtains, 2 table lamps alight, a sideboard and some chairs.

A cellar with a deep freeze where the leg of lamb was kept.

The grocery shop where Mary bought some potatoes, peas and a slice of cheese cake.

The kitchen, where the sergeants had the leg of lamb for supper.

Time:

Evening, 5.00 p.m. when Patrick returned home from work.

Before 6.00 p.m., when Mary reached the grocery shop.

Nearly 9.00 p.m. when Mary offered the sergeants the whiskey.

Symbols

The lamb, signifies Patrick, who naively thought he could divorce his wife without any repercussions and was slaughtered as a result.

The lamb may also symbolize Mary who is regarded as a timid and meek housewife before she murders her husband

Character

Mary Maloney, protagonist, Main character, a round character, a docile wife who turned into a cruel murderer and a manipulator who tried to cover her tracks.

Patrick Maloney, Antagonist, Main character, an irresponsible husband who wanted to divorce his pregnant wife who was already pregnant.

Sam, the grocer, a minor character.

Jack Noonan, a minor character, a...