Roald Dahl, born 13/9/1916, gained fame for his works as a children’s author, including books like The Twits, Matilda, The BFG, Charlie and the chocolate factory, and more. In collaboration with Walt Disney, he released his debut children’s book “The Gremlins” in 1943 and followed it up with his first anthology of short stories in the US by 1945. Apart from his renowned children’s stories, Dahl has also curated a popular collection for adults known as Tales of the Unexpected. His literary creations predominantly revolve around fantasy and are brimming with boundless imagination.
The selected stories for analysis are The Landlady, Lamb to the Slaughter, and Man from the South. These stories blend cruelty with humor, presenting a captivating mix of the grotesque and comic. A recurring theme is the deceptive nature of people. It is evident from the characters’ language and the story settings that all three tales are set in the 1950s, reflecting the era in which they were written.
Roald Dahl has published numerous captivating and peculiar novels and nearly 50 short stories. One of his renowned tales, “Lamb to the Slaughter,” is expertly crafted with meticulous attention to every word and expression. Each element implies something and often carries a significant meaning, skillfully manipulating the reader’s perspective. Adding to the intrigue, the story is presented from the viewpoint of the murderer while still reflecting the author’s own opinions.
The setting of “Lamb to the Slaughter” is a typical 1950s home, with its “warm and clean” environment and closed curtains. The protagonist, Mary Maloney, is portrayed as the quintessential housewife. The narrator notes that she was eagerly awaiting her husband’s return, evidenced by her preparation of fresh ice cubes, showcasing her excellent housekeeping skills. Mary’s joy at her husband Patrick’s arrival from work is highlighted as Dahl describes how she hears the sound of his tires on the gravel and his footsteps approaching. Upon Patrick’s entrance, Mary immediately expresses concern for his well-being, referring to him as her “tired darling,” and promptly offers him a tall glass of alcohol.
According to Dahl, she thoroughly enjoys basking in her husband’s presence, comparing it to how a sunbather relishes the sun. However, doubts arise when considering whether her husband reciprocates the same level of affection. Dahl proceeds to portray his use of assertive language, instructing her to take a seat.
Patrick Maloney’s peculiar behavior becomes evident when he shows no signs of affection towards his wife and discloses that he is leaving her for another woman. Additionally, he offers her money for the baby. Despite being shocked by this revelation, Mary’s initial response is to dismiss her husband’s words and focus on taking care of him. She disregards his claim of not being hungry and inquires if he wants dinner. It appears as though Mary has transformed into a different person entirely, as she walks over to the freezer and retrieves the hard, frozen leg of lamb. Holding it tightly in her hands, she slowly approaches her husband who stands near the window. Without hesitation, she strikes him with the lamb on his head causing him to collapse onto the ground, while she remains motionless.
After discovering her husband’s death, she composes herself and plans what to say to the shopkeeper named Sam. She rehearses her smile and speech in front of a mirror before collecting herself and going to the shop to establish an alibi. When she returns, she immediately contacts the police and pretends to be terrified as they arrive at her home, convincingly playing the part of a grieving widow. The impression that Dahl has crafted of a loving and caring wife slowly diminishes, giving way to a sinister and unhinged woman.
In the short story “Land Lady” from Roald Dahl’s collection “Tales of the unexpected,” the main character is an innocent and welcoming middle-aged lady with gentle blue eyes and a round pink face. Unbeknownst to the police, who are unaware that the murder weapon is right under their noses, she offers them the lamb she has cooked. The story begins when Billy Weaver arrives in Bath after taking the train from London.
Excited about starting a new job in town, Billy, who has never been there before, notices a “BED AND BREAKFAST” sign in the window of a nearby house. Intrigued by the charming house, roaring fire, and little dog sleeping on the rug, he decides to investigate further and rings the doorbell. An inviting elderly lady promptly answers and invites him inside. She informs him of the room rate which surprisingly is lower than what Billy had budgeted for originally. This prompts him to decide to stay.
The woman whom he immediately encounters is described as warm and welcoming, with a ’round, pink face’ and ‘gentle, blue eyes’. This description helps us understand why Billy is drawn into the house and why he can’t believe what he sees. However, Billy starts to question the Landlady when he rings the doorbell and she opens the door instantly, as if she were a jack in the box. This simile used by Roald Dahl suggests that she already knew about Billy’s arrival and was eagerly waiting for him.
You begin to question the lady because Billy notices that there is no evidence of other guests at the house. Roald Dahl describes it as “no other coats, no hats, no walking sticks, no umbrellas, nothing.” Despite realizing this, Billy still naively decides to stay at the B&B. He believes the lady is “harmless” and may have “probably lost her son in the war.” However, the reader might still be suspicious of the Landlady because she mentions how picky she is about other guests. Dahl employs assonance when she says “teeny, weeny bit choosy.”
As Billy signs the guest book, he notices two familiar names. He recalls that she had mentioned these two guests in the past and present. She goes on to mention that the guests are still currently staying here, specifically stating ‘they are still here, both of them still on the third floor’. Despite not seeing any coats or belongings in the hallway when he first arrived, Billy decides to stay. The writer then uses a simile to describe Mr. Mullholland’s skin, comparing it to that of a baby’s. This raises curiosity about how the writer is so knowledgeable about Mr. Mullholland.
Dahl portrays her entrance into the room as a lively and enthusiastic one, with her holding the silver tray high like a playful horse. This suggests her excitement in serving Billy a drink, but also implies a sense of urgency in poisoning him. The author employs the sense of taste, referring to the tea’s bitterness and resemblance to almonds, to suggest that she has been secretly poisoning her guests. This realization leads Billy to question her true nature, challenging the perception of her as a kind and hospitable middle-aged woman.
Billy’s expectations of his new house were shattered as he quickly realized he had made a terrible decision. Initially thinking it was a good deal and a “pretty decent house to stay in,” Billy now understands how wrong he was. The connection between the women in “Lamb to the Slaughter” and “The Landlady” becomes evident as both characters turn on others in similar ways and are not what they initially appear to be. Roald Dahl’s description of the setting in “Man from the South” depicts a typical vacation spot with “big coconut trees” and “yellow umbrellas.”
The wind was blowing in the tree tops and the sun was shining as the scene transitioned into a hotel room where the bet is set to happen. The main characters include the little man, referred to as “me”, the American cadet with the lighter, and the English girl. Although the little lady who appears later in the story is crucial, she remains mysterious and less involved compared to the others. The protagonist, “me”, presents himself as a harmless middle-aged man.
The man’s South American accent is the main indicator of his pleasant personality. A cadet and an English girl request to sit down, and subsequently do so. The cadet kindly offers cigarettes to everyone. As he attempts to light his cigarette, the man comments, “That won’t work in this wind.” Disregarding the remark, the cadet confidently states, “Sure, it’ll work. It always works.” This leads to a discussion between them. The man proposes a bet to the cadet: if the lighter successfully ignites ten times in a row, the cadet will earn the little man’s Cadillac. Conversely, if the lighter fails to light, the little man will gain possession of the cadet’s left-hand little finger.
Initially, the cadet expresses aversion towards the bet, but ultimately agrees following a discussion. Subsequently, everyone proceeds to the hotel room occupied by the little man, where the bet is scheduled to occur. Carlos initiates with a remark about having a small Martini. Once the little man receives a chopping knife from his maid, he prepares for the bet. In order to participate, the cadet places his hand on a table while the little man intends to seize his finger as soon as the lighter fails to ignite. At this moment, the lady enters and grabs hold of the chopping knife from the little man’s grasp, subsequently tossing it onto the bed.
