Idea of Betrayal in “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl

The Impact of Betrayal on Other Characters in "Lamb to Slaughter"
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The Impact of Betrayal on Other Characters in "Lamb to Slaughter"
Betrayal is the central theme of "Lamb to Slaughter," where betrayal begets betrayal. The story revolves around a loving wife, Mrs. Maloney, who kills her husband after he declares the breaking of their marriage. The wife projects her betrayal to revenge his deception by murdering him with the frozen lamb, lying to his colleagues from the police station about the murder, and inviting them to eat the cooked lamb. The repeated dramatic irony develops the dual theme of betrayal with shocking consequences. The husband loses his life and planned future, while the wife becomes an insane woman carrying a child whose future is made insecure by the parents. Hence, all prominent characters suffer from the deception started by Mr. Maloney and ended by his wife. "Lamb to Slaughter" is a story of betrayal which impacts the life and relationship of Mr. and Mrs. Maloney, transforming the wife negatively while challenging the unborn child's future
Mr. Maloney begins the theme of betrayal in the story and soon becomes the victim of its bitter consequences by the resulting betrayal of Mrs. Maloney. He was the beloved husband of Mrs. Maloney, whom she loves sincerely and dedicatedly. While waiting for him, she glances at the clock, thinking, "each minute gone by made it nearer the time he would come" (Dahl, 1953, p. 1). She is every minute worried about him every day, like taking off his coat, making drinks for him, and asking if he is tired. She is a caring wife who can cook frozen meat right on the day she is supposed to go out for dinner (Dahl, 1953, p. 2). However, the wife's love, care, and adoration meet the husband's ignorance and indifference, who responds to all her gentle questions with the phrase "sit down" (Dal, 1953, p. 2). Soon, Maloney's announcement that he cannot run their marriage changes his status from an adored idol to a disgusting cheater, whom Mrs. Maloney cannot allow to live, and she murders him as soon as she gets the chance. She hits him "as hard as she could," which indicates this violently unbridled passion of hatred for someone (Dahl, 1953, p. 3). Mr. Maloney's betrayal ends his life, and the wife is not regretful of her crime but looks calm, satisfied, and 'out of the shock.' If she had not been pregnant, killing a dishonest life partner would be a 'relief for her. Besides, as Mr. Maloney was pregnant, Maloney was about to become a father, which is a joyous sensation. However, he deprives himself of this by breaking the mutual trust between the couple. Thereby, Maloney becomes the first victim of the betrayal he begins because he loses his life, anticipated fatherhood, and the status of a god dedicatedly loved by his wife.
The double theme of betrayal impacts the second important character, Mrs. Maloney, to a significantly debatable extent. At first, she loses her innocence and honesty and ironically repeats the act of deception born by the deception of her husband. She was a faithful and virtuous housewife, living happily in her quiet home, never thinking about decei...