Compare and Contrast the two short stories Lamb to the slaughter(1954) and The Adventure of the Speckled Band (1892).

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                      Compare and Contrast the two short stories Lamb to             the slaughter(1954) and The Adventure of the Speckled Band(1892)

‘Lamb to the Slaughter’ was written by Roald Dahl in 1954.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote ‘The Speckled Band’ in 1892. His stories are about the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. Before readings this story I knew that Sherlock Holmes was a famous detective working with fellow college Doctor Watson and Scotland Yard.

The victim in ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’ is Patrick Maloney. He was married to Mary Maloney. He was killed when Mary Maloney hit him over the head with a leg of lamb. We started to suspect something was wrong when quoted “on the evening of his death Patrick Maloney did an unusual thing. He finished his drink very quickly and then poured himself out another very strong one.” Another clue that may suggest that something is wrong is that he takes a long time to reply to his wife “he didn’t answer”, “Her eyes waited on him for an answer, a smile, a little nod, but he made no sign.” “He had finished the second drink and was staring down into the glass, frowning.”

In the ‘Speckled Band’ the victim is Miss Helen Stoner. When we first see her in the story she was wearing black, veiled and grey haired. She was shivering and terrified “we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with a restless frightened eyes, like of those of some hunted animal”, “the lady gave a violent start”, “It is fear, Mr Holmes. It is terror.”

The murderer in ‘The Speckled Band’ was Doctor Grimesby Roylott. He was a violent man who had a bad and short temper “In a fit of anger, however, caused by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he beat his native butler to death”. After his wife dies he shut himself up and became very violent “But a terrible change came over our step-father about this time…”he is a man of immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger”. His motive for trying to kill Miss Helen Stoner was over money. His deceased wife left money for her daughters, but if they die he would receive the money. I not feel sympathy for Doctor Roylott because he’s sick and twisted. He is also very selfish, but a very dangerous man. He should have got capital punishment when he murdered his butler in India.

In ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’, in the scene of the crime there is a very calm and relaxed atmosphere “The room was warm and clean, the curtains drawn, the two table lamps alight – hers and the one by the empty chair opposite. On the sideboard behind her, two tall glasses, soda water, whisky. Fresh ice cubes in the Thermos Bucket.” Although there is calm and relaxed atmosphere, it is a little too calm which creates tension. I understand why her husband left her because she created too much tension and she fussed over him too much.

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In the scene of the crime in ‘The Speckled Band’ was in an old house. The house is described as “The building was of grey, lichen – blotched stone, with a high central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly caved in, a picture of ruin.” This creates a spooky and scary atmosphere. The atmosphere makes me feel very cautious because it’s a typical description of a haunted house where anything could ...

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