In "Lamb to the Slaughter," Mary copes with her emotional struggle after killing her husband by going into shock and going through the motions of a normal evening. Evidence from the text includes her "first instinct" to act as though nothing has happened, cooking dinner and cleaning up the evidence of the murder. She also forces herself to go to the grocer's to create an alibi for herself. The text states, "The shopkeeper and his wife were still in the back room. She'd have to go in and say something." Mary's actions suggest that she is trying to keep her composure and remain in control of the situation, even though she is in a state of shock and distress. Overall, Mary copes with her emotional struggle by going through the motions of her normal routine and trying to maintain a sense of control over her life.