Final answer:
The title 'Lamb to the Slaughter' symbolizes the unsuspecting victim led to his murder, as well as the deceptive innocence of the murderer. It also draws on the traditional sacrificial role of lambs, evoking innocence and sacrifice.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "Lamb to the Slaughter" in the story's title has multiple layers of meaning. It traditionally refers to an innocent and unaware being led to a grim fate, similar to a lamb being led to its slaughter without anticipation of death. In the context of the story, the phrase can be seen as symbolic, referring to the victim of the murder, who is unsuspectingly led to his demise, and perhaps also to the murderer, Mary Maloney, who seems meek and harmless like a lamb but is capable of deadly actions. This duality of innocence and impending doom, along with the unexpected role reversals in the story, create a potent metaphor encapsulated in the title. In a broader literary sense, lambs have often symbolized innocence and sacrifice, something that has deep roots in cultural and religious contexts, as seen in the Biblical references where Christ is depicted as the sacrificial Lamb of God.