the perfect murder: in your notes, put the following ideas in order of importance (feel free to add...
TRANSCRIPT
The Perfect Murder:The Perfect Murder:In your notes, put the following ideas in In your notes, put the following ideas in
order of importance (Feel free to add order of importance (Feel free to add your own ideas to the list.)your own ideas to the list.)
* It should look like a suicide* It should be quick
* It should leave no clues* It should be easy to arrange
* It should take place in a lonely, isolated place
* It should be cheap
* No violence should be necessary
* It should look like an accident
* The murderer should have a good alibi
The Perfect Murder:The Perfect Murder:In your notes, put the following ideas in In your notes, put the following ideas in
order of importance (Feel free to add order of importance (Feel free to add your own ideas to the list.)your own ideas to the list.)
* It should look like a suicide* It should be quick
* It should leave no clues* It should be easy to arrange
* It should take place in a lonely, isolated place
* It should be cheap
* No violence should be necessary
* It should look like an accident
* The murderer should have a good alibi
“Lamb to the Slaughter”
by Roald Dahl
“Lamb to the Slaughter”
by Roald Dahl
Origin of the titleOrigin of the title
Excerpt from a 1950s Home Economics Textbook
Compiled by Ms. Leslie BlankshipColumbus, Ohio
Have dinner ready: Plan ahead even the night before to have a delicious meal on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
Excerpt from a 1950s Home Economics Textbook
Compiled by Ms. Leslie BlankshipColumbus, Ohio
Have dinner ready: Plan ahead even the night before to have a delicious meal on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
Minimize all noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quite. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.
Some don'ts: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day.
Minimize all noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quite. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.
Some don'ts: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day.
The goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.
Source: http://www.coax.net/people/lwf/TEXTBOOK.HTM
The goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.
Source: http://www.coax.net/people/lwf/TEXTBOOK.HTM
Dark HumorDark HumorDark HumorDark Humor
Dark humor is the use of the grotesque, Dark humor is the use of the grotesque, morbid, or absurd for darkly comic morbid, or absurd for darkly comic
purposes. purposes.
Dark humor is the use of the grotesque, Dark humor is the use of the grotesque, morbid, or absurd for darkly comic morbid, or absurd for darkly comic
purposes. purposes.
Dark HumorDark HumorDark HumorDark Humor
Dark humor became widespread in Dark humor became widespread in popular culture, especially in literature and popular culture, especially in literature and
film, beginning in the 1950s; it remains film, beginning in the 1950s; it remains popular toward the end of the twentieth popular toward the end of the twentieth
century. century.
Joseph Heller’s novel Joseph Heller’s novel Catch-22Catch-22 (1961) is (1961) is one of the best-known examples in one of the best-known examples in
American fiction. American fiction.
Dark humor became widespread in Dark humor became widespread in popular culture, especially in literature and popular culture, especially in literature and
film, beginning in the 1950s; it remains film, beginning in the 1950s; it remains popular toward the end of the twentieth popular toward the end of the twentieth
century. century.
Joseph Heller’s novel Joseph Heller’s novel Catch-22Catch-22 (1961) is (1961) is one of the best-known examples in one of the best-known examples in
American fiction. American fiction.
““Lamb to the Slaughter”Lamb to the Slaughter”““Lamb to the Slaughter”Lamb to the Slaughter”
verbal
(saying something)
irony
(the opposite of what is expected)
verbal irony
(saying something that is the opposite of what is expected or true)
Academic vocabulary
““Lamb to the Slaughter”Lamb to the Slaughter”““Lamb to the Slaughter”Lamb to the Slaughter”
• situational irony
• dramatic irony
• verbal irony
Academic vocabulary
““Lamb to the Slaughter”Lamb to the Slaughter”““Lamb to the Slaughter”Lamb to the Slaughter”
ambiguityambiguity•A quality that allows readers to A quality that allows readers to interpret a story or other work in more interpret a story or other work in more than one way.than one way.•Ambiguous situations have different Ambiguous situations have different possible results.possible results.
ambiguityambiguity•A quality that allows readers to A quality that allows readers to interpret a story or other work in more interpret a story or other work in more than one way.than one way.•Ambiguous situations have different Ambiguous situations have different possible results.possible results.
““Lamb to the Slaughter”Lamb to the Slaughter”““Lamb to the Slaughter”Lamb to the Slaughter”
ToneTone•The attitude a writer takes towards a The attitude a writer takes towards a subject. subject. •Reflects the writer’s feelingsReflects the writer’s feelings•Often described in one word: formal, Often described in one word: formal, bitter, objective, sarcastic, etc.bitter, objective, sarcastic, etc.
ToneTone•The attitude a writer takes towards a The attitude a writer takes towards a subject. subject. •Reflects the writer’s feelingsReflects the writer’s feelings•Often described in one word: formal, Often described in one word: formal, bitter, objective, sarcastic, etc.bitter, objective, sarcastic, etc.
After the Story…After the Story…After the Story…After the Story…
SettingSettingSettingSetting
The setting is symbolic: Its domestic The setting is symbolic: Its domestic primness implies Mary’s having bought primness implies Mary’s having bought
into a rather boring version of middle class into a rather boring version of middle class happiness. happiness.
The setting is symbolic: Its domestic The setting is symbolic: Its domestic primness implies Mary’s having bought primness implies Mary’s having bought
into a rather boring version of middle class into a rather boring version of middle class happiness. happiness.
SymbolsSymbolsSymbolsSymbols
The frozen leg of lamb is also symbolic The frozen leg of lamb is also symbolic and indeed constitutes the central symbol and indeed constitutes the central symbol of the story. The piece of meat is already of the story. The piece of meat is already a token of violence: an animal traditionally a token of violence: an animal traditionally viewed as meek and gentle slaughtered viewed as meek and gentle slaughtered
for carnivorous consumption. for carnivorous consumption.
The frozen leg of lamb is also symbolic The frozen leg of lamb is also symbolic and indeed constitutes the central symbol and indeed constitutes the central symbol of the story. The piece of meat is already of the story. The piece of meat is already a token of violence: an animal traditionally a token of violence: an animal traditionally viewed as meek and gentle slaughtered viewed as meek and gentle slaughtered
for carnivorous consumption. for carnivorous consumption.
SymbolsSymbolsSymbolsSymbols
The notion of a lamb, moreover, resonates The notion of a lamb, moreover, resonates with biblical symbols, such as the with biblical symbols, such as the
scapegoat mentioned in Leviticus, the ram scapegoat mentioned in Leviticus, the ram that substitutes for Isaac in the tale of that substitutes for Isaac in the tale of
Abraham and Isaac, or Jesus himself, “the Abraham and Isaac, or Jesus himself, “the Lamb of God.” Lamb of God.”
But Dahl’s story reverses the connotation But Dahl’s story reverses the connotation of these biblical images.of these biblical images.
The notion of a lamb, moreover, resonates The notion of a lamb, moreover, resonates with biblical symbols, such as the with biblical symbols, such as the
scapegoat mentioned in Leviticus, the ram scapegoat mentioned in Leviticus, the ram that substitutes for Isaac in the tale of that substitutes for Isaac in the tale of
Abraham and Isaac, or Jesus himself, “the Abraham and Isaac, or Jesus himself, “the Lamb of God.” Lamb of God.”
But Dahl’s story reverses the connotation But Dahl’s story reverses the connotation of these biblical images.of these biblical images.
ThemesThemesThemesThemes
BETRAYALBETRAYAL
Patrick Maloney’s unexplained decision to Patrick Maloney’s unexplained decision to leave his pregnant wife. This violation of leave his pregnant wife. This violation of the marriage-vow is obviously not the only the marriage-vow is obviously not the only betrayal in the story, however. betrayal in the story, however.
Mary’s killing of her husband is perhaps Mary’s killing of her husband is perhaps the ultimate betrayal. the ultimate betrayal.
Her elaborately planned alibi and Her elaborately planned alibi and convincing lies to the detectives also convincing lies to the detectives also constitute betrayal.constitute betrayal.
BETRAYALBETRAYAL
Patrick Maloney’s unexplained decision to Patrick Maloney’s unexplained decision to leave his pregnant wife. This violation of leave his pregnant wife. This violation of the marriage-vow is obviously not the only the marriage-vow is obviously not the only betrayal in the story, however. betrayal in the story, however.
Mary’s killing of her husband is perhaps Mary’s killing of her husband is perhaps the ultimate betrayal. the ultimate betrayal.
Her elaborately planned alibi and Her elaborately planned alibi and convincing lies to the detectives also convincing lies to the detectives also constitute betrayal.constitute betrayal.
ThemesThemesThemesThemesIDENTITYIDENTITY
At the level of popular psychology, Dahl At the level of popular psychology, Dahl makes it clear through his description of makes it clear through his description of the Maloney household that Mary has the Maloney household that Mary has internalized the middle class ideal of a internalized the middle class ideal of a young mid-twentieth-century housewife, young mid-twentieth-century housewife, maintaining a tidy home and catering to maintaining a tidy home and catering to her husband; pouring drinks when the her husband; pouring drinks when the man finishes his day is a gesture that man finishes his day is a gesture that comes from movies and magazines of the comes from movies and magazines of the day. day.
IDENTITYIDENTITY
At the level of popular psychology, Dahl At the level of popular psychology, Dahl makes it clear through his description of makes it clear through his description of the Maloney household that Mary has the Maloney household that Mary has internalized the middle class ideal of a internalized the middle class ideal of a young mid-twentieth-century housewife, young mid-twentieth-century housewife, maintaining a tidy home and catering to maintaining a tidy home and catering to her husband; pouring drinks when the her husband; pouring drinks when the man finishes his day is a gesture that man finishes his day is a gesture that comes from movies and magazines of the comes from movies and magazines of the day. day.
ThemesThemesThemesThemesIDENTITYIDENTITY
Mary’s sudden murderous action shatters Mary’s sudden murderous action shatters the image that we have of her and that the image that we have of her and that she seems to have of herself. Dahl she seems to have of herself. Dahl demonstrates, in the deadly fall of the demonstrates, in the deadly fall of the frozen joint, that “identity” can be fragile. frozen joint, that “identity” can be fragile.
IDENTITYIDENTITY
Mary’s sudden murderous action shatters Mary’s sudden murderous action shatters the image that we have of her and that the image that we have of her and that she seems to have of herself. Dahl she seems to have of herself. Dahl demonstrates, in the deadly fall of the demonstrates, in the deadly fall of the frozen joint, that “identity” can be fragile. frozen joint, that “identity” can be fragile.
ThemesThemesThemesThemesIDENTITYIDENTITY
Once she shatters her own identity, Mary Once she shatters her own identity, Mary must carefully reconstruct it for protective must carefully reconstruct it for protective purposes, as when she sets up an alibi by purposes, as when she sets up an alibi by feigning a normal conversation with the feigning a normal conversation with the grocer.grocer.
IDENTITYIDENTITY
Once she shatters her own identity, Mary Once she shatters her own identity, Mary must carefully reconstruct it for protective must carefully reconstruct it for protective purposes, as when she sets up an alibi by purposes, as when she sets up an alibi by feigning a normal conversation with the feigning a normal conversation with the grocer.grocer.
ThemesThemesThemesThemesLOVE AND PASSIONLOVE AND PASSION
At the beginning of “Lamb to the Slaughter,” At the beginning of “Lamb to the Slaughter,” Mary Maloney feels love and physical Mary Maloney feels love and physical passion for her husband Patrick. passion for her husband Patrick.
She luxuriates in his presence, in the “warm She luxuriates in his presence, in the “warm male glow that came out of him to her,” and male glow that came out of him to her,” and adores the way he sits, walks, and behaves. adores the way he sits, walks, and behaves.
LOVE AND PASSIONLOVE AND PASSION
At the beginning of “Lamb to the Slaughter,” At the beginning of “Lamb to the Slaughter,” Mary Maloney feels love and physical Mary Maloney feels love and physical passion for her husband Patrick. passion for her husband Patrick.
She luxuriates in his presence, in the “warm She luxuriates in his presence, in the “warm male glow that came out of him to her,” and male glow that came out of him to her,” and adores the way he sits, walks, and behaves. adores the way he sits, walks, and behaves.
ThemesThemesThemesThemesLOVE AND PASSIONLOVE AND PASSION
Patrick is presumably motivated to leave his Patrick is presumably motivated to leave his wife by an overriding passion for something wife by an overriding passion for something or someone else. or someone else.
Mary’s mention of his failure to advance at Mary’s mention of his failure to advance at work, and his own wish that she not make a work, and his own wish that she not make a “fuss” about their separation because “It “fuss” about their separation because “It wouldn’t be very good for my job” indicate wouldn’t be very good for my job” indicate that it may be professional success that he that it may be professional success that he desires. desires.
His treatment of his wife does not suggest His treatment of his wife does not suggest that he loves her.that he loves her.
LOVE AND PASSIONLOVE AND PASSION
Patrick is presumably motivated to leave his Patrick is presumably motivated to leave his wife by an overriding passion for something wife by an overriding passion for something or someone else. or someone else.
Mary’s mention of his failure to advance at Mary’s mention of his failure to advance at work, and his own wish that she not make a work, and his own wish that she not make a “fuss” about their separation because “It “fuss” about their separation because “It wouldn’t be very good for my job” indicate wouldn’t be very good for my job” indicate that it may be professional success that he that it may be professional success that he desires. desires.
His treatment of his wife does not suggest His treatment of his wife does not suggest that he loves her.that he loves her.
ThemesThemesThemesThemesPASSIVITYPASSIVITY
The concept of passivity figures in the story.The concept of passivity figures in the story.
The first pages of the story portray Mary’s The first pages of the story portray Mary’s existence as almost mindlessly passive: she existence as almost mindlessly passive: she sits and watches the clock, thinking that each sits and watches the clock, thinking that each minute brings her husband closer to her. minute brings her husband closer to her.
PASSIVITYPASSIVITY
The concept of passivity figures in the story.The concept of passivity figures in the story.
The first pages of the story portray Mary’s The first pages of the story portray Mary’s existence as almost mindlessly passive: she existence as almost mindlessly passive: she sits and watches the clock, thinking that each sits and watches the clock, thinking that each minute brings her husband closer to her. minute brings her husband closer to her.
ThemesThemesThemesThemesPASSIVITYPASSIVITY
She is content to watch him closely and try to She is content to watch him closely and try to anticipate his moods and needs. anticipate his moods and needs.
Patrick’s predictability up to this point is part Patrick’s predictability up to this point is part of this passivity. of this passivity.
The two are living a clockwork life against The two are living a clockwork life against which, in some way, each ultimately rebels. which, in some way, each ultimately rebels.
Passivity appears as the repression of Passivity appears as the repression of passion, and passion finds a way to reassert passion, and passion finds a way to reassert itself.itself.
PASSIVITYPASSIVITY
She is content to watch him closely and try to She is content to watch him closely and try to anticipate his moods and needs. anticipate his moods and needs.
Patrick’s predictability up to this point is part Patrick’s predictability up to this point is part of this passivity. of this passivity.
The two are living a clockwork life against The two are living a clockwork life against which, in some way, each ultimately rebels. which, in some way, each ultimately rebels.
Passivity appears as the repression of Passivity appears as the repression of passion, and passion finds a way to reassert passion, and passion finds a way to reassert itself.itself.
ThemesThemesThemesThemesJUSTICE AND INJUSTICEJUSTICE AND INJUSTICE
The question of justice and injustice is The question of justice and injustice is directly related to the question of revenge. directly related to the question of revenge. “Lamb to the Slaughter” narrates a train of “Lamb to the Slaughter” narrates a train of injustices, beginning with Patrick’s betrayal of injustices, beginning with Patrick’s betrayal of Mary and their marriage, peaking with Mary’s Mary and their marriage, peaking with Mary’s killing of Patrick, and finding its denouement killing of Patrick, and finding its denouement in Mary’s deception of the investigating in Mary’s deception of the investigating officers. officers.
JUSTICE AND INJUSTICEJUSTICE AND INJUSTICE
The question of justice and injustice is The question of justice and injustice is directly related to the question of revenge. directly related to the question of revenge. “Lamb to the Slaughter” narrates a train of “Lamb to the Slaughter” narrates a train of injustices, beginning with Patrick’s betrayal of injustices, beginning with Patrick’s betrayal of Mary and their marriage, peaking with Mary’s Mary and their marriage, peaking with Mary’s killing of Patrick, and finding its denouement killing of Patrick, and finding its denouement in Mary’s deception of the investigating in Mary’s deception of the investigating officers. officers.
ThemesThemesThemesThemesJUSTICE AND INJUSTICEJUSTICE AND INJUSTICE
Patrick acts unjustly (or so it must be Patrick acts unjustly (or so it must be assumed on the basis of the evidence) in assumed on the basis of the evidence) in announcing his abandonment of Mary, for announcing his abandonment of Mary, for this breaks the wedding oath; Mary acts this breaks the wedding oath; Mary acts unjustly, in a way far exceeding her unjustly, in a way far exceeding her husband’s injustice, in killing Patrick, and she husband’s injustice, in killing Patrick, and she compounds the injustice by concealing it from compounds the injustice by concealing it from the authorities.the authorities.
JUSTICE AND INJUSTICEJUSTICE AND INJUSTICE
Patrick acts unjustly (or so it must be Patrick acts unjustly (or so it must be assumed on the basis of the evidence) in assumed on the basis of the evidence) in announcing his abandonment of Mary, for announcing his abandonment of Mary, for this breaks the wedding oath; Mary acts this breaks the wedding oath; Mary acts unjustly, in a way far exceeding her unjustly, in a way far exceeding her husband’s injustice, in killing Patrick, and she husband’s injustice, in killing Patrick, and she compounds the injustice by concealing it from compounds the injustice by concealing it from the authorities.the authorities.