Comparing and Constrasing the differences betweens 'Lamb to the Slaughter' and 'The Speckled Band'.

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Comparing and Constrasing the differences betweens ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’ and ‘The Speckled Band’

In my opinion I feel that both killers had good reasons to act in the ways they did, however this does not mean that they should have killed their respective victims.

The reason why Dr Roylott killed in 'The Speckled Band' was, in short for the money, or to be specific the money he would lose if his step-daughters were to marry. This is

The motive for Mrs Mary Maloney to kill Patrick in 'Lamb to the Slaughter' is simple, yet complex. If I was comparing it to something I would compare Mary's reasons for killing Patrick to a watch. In 'Lamb to the Slaughter' Dahl decides not to tell the readers what Patrick said to Mary to cause her to snap. He has a very good reason for doing this; it leaves what he said up to the reader's imagination, enabling the people who read the story to think what he said to Mary and they can think anything they want because no drinking alcohol on the job at one point, "…'You mean this whisky?' … 'Yes, please. But just a small one. It might make me feel better.' …'Why don't you have one yourself?' … 'Well it's not strictly allowed, but I might take just a drop to keep me going.' … 'One by one the others came in and were persuaded to take a little nip of whisky.'" This, in my opinion, shows that Mary Maloney has recovered from her insanity, realised what she's done, and now for the her unborn child's sake, trying to get away with it. It also shows that she was a very clever woman, and more to her than is revealed. Another point that I would like to make, which I find quite amusing, is that Mary Maloney Roald Dahl's ultimate dig at the police authorities. The final line in 'Lamb to the Slaughter' contains a huge amount of irony, and is Dahl's final attempt at making fools of the detectives. "'Personally, I think its right here on the premises.'

'Probably right under our very noses. What do you think, Jack?" Jack, of course was the lead detective. I believe that with this one line Dahl succeeds in making fools of the whole police force.

'The Speckled Band' is very different. There are only 2 detectives, private detectives at that, hired specially for the occasion. Holmes and Watson were very professional, and took everything into consideration, and left no stone unturned in their quest to find the killer. The atmosphere in this story compared with that of 'Lamb to the Slaughter' is like chalk and cheese. The ambience in 'The Speckled Band' is tense, and on the wire, with an air of determination, and humour in places, "'You are Holmes the meddler.'

'My friend smiled.'

'Holmes the busybody.'

'Holmes the Scotland Yard jack-in-office'"

I feel that with the reader not finding out the killer until the end of the story, the role of Holmes is basically just to give clues to the reader, and point them in the right direction of themselves finding out who the murderer is.

I would say that the main difference between the two stories is, one is serious, and abides by "the rules" of traditional murder mysteries, and the other is just comical, making fun of the police force. This one difference pushes the stories poles apart from each other, and yet, they both make for an interesting read.

Compare the methods Roald Dahl and Arthur Conan Doyle

use to maintain the readers interest in their stories

There is more then one type of good murder mystery, in "the speckled band" it has a strong minded, famous detective, who always gets his man, But in "lamb to the slaughter" there is no one detective , but several and none of which are very good .

There of course always has to be an unsuspected victim and/or suspect otherwise it would be too predictable, in "lamb to the slaughter" it is Mrs Maloney, the Suspect, and in "the speckled band" it is Dr Grimesby Roylott, Suspect and Victim.

There has to be a twist to the ending, in "lamb to the slaughter" it is that the murderer gets away with it, but in "the speckled band" it is that the murderer suffers the same fate as his victim.

Frightening details are the best part, showing how evil and calculating the human mind can be, like in "lamb to the slaughter" Mrs Maloney becomes a cold calculating person rehearsing her speech in front of a mirror so as not to sound odd.

Strong main characters are a must and usually they would have a slightly useless, clumsy sidekick which would make them seem even cleverer.

Third person mysteries tend not to be as good as first person ones as then you learn more about things then you would in first person so it lessens the mystery.

Roald Dahl set his murder mystery in a warm friendly atmosphere so that it is almost frightening that a murder would happen in this place, This is the effect it has on the reader, a happy atmosphere in a warm house, but still murder is afoot. This scene is so much from the scene one would expect from a murder that it is worrying to think that one does happen in such a place. "The room was warm and clean, the curtains drawn, the two table lamps alight." This is what sets the homely atmosphere and setting, "She laid aside her sewing, and went forward to kiss him as he came in." Typical sexist view, the wife at home sewing then coming to kiss her husband who she has missed so much.

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Conan Doyle sets "the speckled band" first at bakers street in London, where Sherlock Homes's office is and, secondarily at stoke moran, at a mansion, A mansion out in the countryside which no one visits and where a girl mysteriously died years ago, This is you average scary place and actually quiet typical of a murder mystery, this or a castle any way, so you know right from the start that this is going to be a scary place especially when you hear that a girl died here previously of "fright"

The Atmosphere at the house at stoke moran is ...

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