In Lamb to the Slaughter, Mary changes her behavior towards Patrick after his announcement by shifting from adoring and smothering to removed and violent.
What informs the changes?
"Lamb to the Slaughter" is a short story written by Roald Dahl, and it tells the story of Mary Maloney, a seemingly devoted wife who undergoes a significant change. The main change in Mary's character occurs when her husband, Patrick Maloney, reveals that he is leaving her.
Mary Maloney undergoes a significant transformation from a seemingly content wife to a woman capable of calculated deception and murder after learning about her husband's decision to leave her. The story explores the theme of the unexpected breaking points in individuals and the lengths to which people can go when faced with extreme circumstances.