I win WuMs TaylorENG1D1-084 April 2014Character Analysis Essay: Mary MaloneyWhat happens when a woman is rejected by her husband? In the short story "The Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl, we are introduced to Mary Maloney who is apparently a caring, submissive and respectful housewife. However, when her husband tells her he intends to leave her, this dynamic character instantly transforms from a doting housewife into a cunning, calculating, cold-blooded killer whose manipulative, devious, and deceitful actions provide suspense to the story. At the beginning of the story, Mary Maloney is depicted as an innocent, caring, and meek housewife. Every day, Mary Maloney did recreational activities to kill time until her husband came home from work. She loved him so much that when her husband came home, she "[was] always a happy time of the day" (Dahl 1) Mary Maloney loved him and cared for him so much that she looked forward to spending more time with her husband. When Patrick returns home, Mary supplies everything he needs every day. This is shown when he asks “Darling, I must get you some slippers” (Dahl 1). She would get him slippers, prepare meals and drinks because she cares deeply for her husband. He knows that after a long day at work he would definitely be tired so he helps him instead. This shows how much Mary Maloney cared for her husband. But her personality changes drastically as she realizes that her husband doesn't love her as much as she does. and intends to leave her. After Patrick Maloney reveals that he intends to leave her, Mary's personality soon becomes cold, emotionless, and calculating. As she goes to prepare dinner with a leg of lamb after receiving the news, she is excited... middle of paper ......:You must be terribly hungry by now because it's well past dinner time , and I know that Patrick would never forgive me, God bless his soul, if I allowed you to stay in his house without offering you decent hospitality. Why don't you eat that lamb that's in the oven? By now it will be cooked just right, Mary knows the police wouldn't deny a dead man's wishes by tricking her into eating the leg of lamb. The police misinterpret Mary's intentions, thinking that she was offering herself out of hospitality. As a result the police eat the entire leg of lamb, destroying the last piece of evidence that could prove Mary Maloney's guilt. Because of the way she cunningly manipulated the people around her, such as the cops and the grocer, she escapes murder charges. In summary, Mary Maloney is a dynamic character, who changes negatively as the story progresses..