In the short story”Lamb to the slaughter” by Roald Dahl, Mrs. Maloney does not premeditate her husband’s murder. Mrs. Maloney does not premeditate her husband’s murder because her love towards him is too immense, she is willing to serve him, and because of the way she reacts after she spontaneously kills her husband. Thus, Mary Maloney spontaneously kills her husband. There are many reasons why Mrs. Maloney does not premeditate the murder. Mrs. Maloney’s husband’s murder is a spontaneous crime of love because her love toward him is immense.
For example, she excitedly waits for her husband. “Now and again she would glance up at the clock, but without anxiety, merely to please herself with the thought that each minute gone by made it nearer the time when he would come home. ”(55) This shows Mrs. Maloney loves her husband and could not wait until her husband is home. Even tough Mrs. Maloney could have been thinking about killing him she is eager to see him. Furthermore, Mrs. Maloney is not in conditions to murder her husband because she is pregnant.
Another example of why Mrs. Maloney does not premeditate her husband’s murder is, “She laid aside her sewing, stood up, and went forward to kiss him as he came in. ”(56) This shows she is glad to see him and has no intension in harming him in any way. Although she has to greet him, she is happy to greet him. In addition she runs up to him and gives him a kiss. This shows Mrs. Maloney loves her husband, and would never harm him. Another reason Mrs. Maloney’s husband’s murder is a spontaneous crime is the way she is willing to serve him anytime and everything.
For example, “’Darling shall I get your slippers? ’”(87) This shows caring towards him. This also shows Mrs. Maloney’s way to serve Perez-Sandoval pg. 3 him is impossible for her to plan his death. Although serving her husband may seem as a duty, Mrs. Maloney is pleased to serve him. Another reason that proves Mrs. Maloney does not premeditate his death is how she insists on him eating by saying, “’ But Darling, you must eat! Ill fix it anyway, and then you can have it or not as you please’” (88).
This shows she does not premeditate the murder because she is willing to cook it either way. Although she insists on cooking, and he denies it, her motivation is love. In addition, she takes out the food to cook not to use it as a weapon. Therefore, the way she serves him proves she does not premeditate his murder as well as her reaction afterward. The last reason why Mrs. Maloney’s husband’s murder is a spontaneous crime is the way she is upset after the murder. Mrs. Maloney acts as if nothing happened when she kills him.
Although she kills him, she does not plan his murder. In addition she picked him up after she knocks him down. Another reason Mrs. Maloney does not premeditate her husband’s murder is how she is confused after the murder by doing this. “She came out slowly, feeling cold and surprised, and she stood up for a while blinking at the body. ” This shows she does not know what she is doing, therefore she could not have premeditated her husband’s death. In addition, she immediately acts as tough nothing happened.
Therefore, the way she acts after the murder shows she does not premeditate her husband’s murder. In conclusion, Mrs. Maloney does not premeditate her husband’s murder. Mrs. Maloney does not premeditate her husband’s murder because the love she has toward him is immense, and she is willing to serve him. For there reasons, there is no way Mrs. Maloney could have premeditated her husband’s murder, but is a spontaneous crime of passion because she does not know she is going to kill him.
