Both "Lamb to the Slaughter" and "The Speckled Band" Share some of the characteristics of murder mysteries. Explain the similarities and differences between the two stories. And say which of the two you find more compelling.

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Both “Lamb to the Slaughter” and “The Speckled Band”

Share some of the characteristics of murder mysteries.

Explain the similarities and differences between the two stories

And say which of the two you find more compelling.

        Arthur Conan Doyle, author of “The Speckled Band,” wrote his story in 1892. Roald Dahl, author of “Lamb to the Slaughter,” wrote his story in 1954. Straightaway there is a definite difference in the stories; one was written 62 years after the other. This major time gap will obviously affect the way they were written. I will take this into account in this essay. “The Speckled Band” is a typical murder mystery, involving an eccentric doctor and a cunning detective. “Lamb to the Slaughter” is about an impulsive murder of a man by his wife, when he tells her that he is leaving her.

        “Lamb to the Slaughter” begins with a happy, heart-warming scene of Mary Maloney sat waiting for her husband to return from work. “The room was warm and clean, the curtains drawn, the two table lamps alight.” It tells the reader how in love she is, and she seems peaceful and contented as she sews. It appears like domestic bliss. It seems extremely unlikely for that home to be the scene of a murder, as it appears to be so tranquil. As the murder is at the beginning of the story, it leaves the reader in suspense – will the detective catch Mary? Or will she get away with it? It is different to traditional detective stories, because they usually do not reveal whom the murderer is until the very end, which also keeps the reader in suspense but using a different technique.

        “The Speckled Band” is written in first-person narrative and in the past tense. This gives the reader a more realistic impression of the story, and makes it seem true. Dr. Roylott is described as eccentric and dangerous, showing us that he is very likely to be the murderer. The opening of the story has Dr Watson speaking, telling the reader about the background of the story he is about to tell. He makes it seem mysterious and dangerous. This story is also a slight variation on traditional detective stories, as we have a very good idea that Dr Roylott is the murderer, although it never confirms this until the end. He is portrayed to be violent and aggressive, and the story is mainly about discovering how the murder was committed, not who committed it, which would be the classic ‘whodunit’ style.

        In “Lamb to the Slaughter,” the murderer is unusual and quite a surprise to the audience. When Dahl describes Mr and Mrs Maloney, the reader is led to believe that Mr Maloney would be the one most capable of committing a murder, with his nasty abrupt nature and his heavy drinking; “He had finished the second drink and was staring into the glass, frowning.” Mary Maloney is six months’ pregnant, therefore seems highly unlikely to commit a murder, especially the murder of the father of her child. As it shows in the first scene of the story, Mary is a tranquil, loving person, and definitely does not seem capable of planning, let alone committing a murder. Considering this, she was still surprisingly able to cover up her acts and control herself around the police. At first, we feel that Mary is only acting out of shock, but when she manages to gather her senses she changes into a villain, trying to cunningly and slyly cover her tracks. The murders, however, are both specific to their own period in time. At the time, in 1954, home freezers had only just been introduced; therefore the idea of using a frozen leg of meat as a murder weapon was innovative and new. It is also surprising to have a female killer, as recently before 1954 women were seen as inadequate and weak, and were definitely not recognised as equals, so for Dahl to have a female killer would have been a very modern, feminist idea at the time. Conan Doyle’s audience would have been shocked and probably rather disgusted by Dahl’s murderess, probably seeing it as an exploit of women. This is merely because ok the large 62 year time gap between the two stories.

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        Dr Roylott, however, of “The Speckled Band,” was obviously a killer from the very moment he was mentioned. Helen Stoner mentioned his violent past; “In a fit of anger…he beat his native butler to death.” This confirms his violent nature, and already classifies him as a murderer with an angry disposition from the start, even before the reader meets him. He fits the stereotypical villain role much better Mary Maloney. The two murderers are not similar really at all, as Mary is quiet, peaceful and loving, whereas Dr Roylott is unpleasant, bitter, selfish and mean. His powerful mood overpowers everyone ...

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