A Critical Evaluation of 'Lamb to the Slaughter' by Roald Dahl

'Lamb to the Slaughter' is a intriguing murder story set in the 1950's America written by the well renowned children's author Roald Dahl. The plot is threaded with irony, which injects it with dark humour. In this critical evaluation I will determine whether Mary Maloney premeditated the murder of her husband or if it was a spur of the moment act or 'crime of passion'. The short story is set in America and this is …

…the murder, but because she was very cunning after the event. So, Mary Maloney committed a crime of passion in killing her husband Patrick Maloney. At the end of the short story we get an insight into Mary's sense of humour as she 'giggles' in the next room while the policemen say 'Probably right under our noses.' while eating the lamb and debating over where the murder weapon could be - a clever irony.