“The Speckled Band’s” author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has written a very traditional story. The detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend and unofficial assistant Doctor Watson give their services to Helen Stoner who is afraid for her life after the death of her sister. The investigator methodically follows clues and faces danger to solve who is the murderer and what is the weapon. These mysteries are not solved until the end of the story although Mary’s troubled stepfather Doctor Grimesby Roylott is the main suspect.
“Lamb to the Slaughter” has turned the traditional story on its head. The author Roald Dahl has totally discarded convention. The story is about a quiet couple, the murdress Mary Maloney a pregnant devoted housewife and the victim, her husband, Patrick Maloney, who ironically is a policeman himself. Mary is very happy with life. When her husband unexpectedly announces he wants a divorce she murders him with a frozen leg of lamb. She then cooly covers her tracks. The ensuing investigation by detective Jack Noonan and others who are friends of the couple is quite farcicle.
“The Speckled Band” has all the elements of a traditional detective fiction story, involving the typical heroic sleuth, taking risks following clues and protecting the victim from the evil opressor. “Lamb to the Slaughter” is a much shorter faster paced story. It does not follow the traditional formula, as we see the case being led by a close friend of the family. The detective is personally involved and does not seem serious in his investigation, unlike Holmes who is detached, methodical and very serious about his work. Roald Dahl changes the tradition of the typical villain in that the criminal is a pregnant woman who is soft and caring with eyes that hold a “new placid look”.
Throughout “The Speckled Band” Conan Doyle builds up the suspense adding clues and other factors gradually building up the readers knowledge. This slower approach creates time and conjures up many images for the reader. “Lamb to the Slaughter” throws the reader straight into the story and reveals the murdereress immediately. Dahl completely ignores traditional methods creating a comical and ironic mood when the murdress manipulates the detectives into eating the murder weapon, the leg of lamb. Dahl’s subtle use of language adds to the readers perception of the stupid detectives when he describes their voices as “thick and Sloppy” because their mouths were full of meat. This adds to the comical ridiculous image of the detectives. This contrasts strongly to the efficient, effective sharp image portrayed by Sherlock Holmes.
The characters in the two stories are presented very differently. The murderer’s Doctor Grimesby Roylott and Mary Maloney could not be more opposite. Grimesby Roylott is the stereotypical villain described has having “violence of temper approaching to mania” that had been hereditary in the men in his family. He was the terror of the village and had immense strength and uncontrollable anger.He had experienced a troubled past. His evil intentions had been carefully planned he was a cold and calculating man. Mary Maloney is a kind and caring woman respected in her community as we see when the shopkeeper addresses her as “Mrs Maloney” her crime is totally unplanned although we see her react to what has happened and calmly build her defence. She has more the qualities of a victim than a murderer.
“The Speckled Band’s” victim Helen Stoner is what you would expect. She is a frightened woman being oppressed by her stepfather. On the other hand, Patrick Maloney is a police officer, not exactly the type of person you would expect to be murdered by his pregnant wife.
The detectives are portrayed very differently. Sherlock Holmes is decisive, clever and made to look more impressive when Doctor Watson describes him as having “rapid deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on logical basis”. The relationship between Holmes and Doctor Watson is very respectful and professional. Jack Noonan on the other hand shows little of these qualities in himself or in his relationship with his colleagues. The characters of these two different men give much of the mood and atmosphere to the stories. The decisive, efficient, vital and determined Sherlock Holmes goes hand in hand with the story as does the ridiculous inefficient laughable Jack Noonan.
The settings of the two stories differ extensively. The old house in “The Speckled Band” is semi ruined, large, isolated, impersonal and strange.This all adds to the overhall tension and generally mysterious and foreboding mood. You automatically fear for Helen Stoner in such an unpleasant place. The setting of “Lamb to the Slaughter” is cosy, homely and peaceful you feel almost wrapped in a calm security, which makes the murder more incredible and shocking.
“The Lamb to the Slaughter” ends very abruptly this “Crime of Passion” leaves the reader wondering what will happen next. The fate of Mary Maloney is unknown and the detectives have not solved the case. It ends on an ironic humorous note which is a suitable ending for this type of story. It may however not appeal to a reader who likes a conclusive ending such as in “The Speckled Band”, where we see the never failing detective foil the murderer summarise his investigation and bring the case to a close. This is a most fitting ending for a spellbinding traditional story.
The authors have presented each story very differently. We see contrasting plots characters, settings, language and style of writing all adding to the varied overall effectiveness.
“Lamb to the Slaughter” is written in a very simple language with little suspense but in a way that shocks when the murder happens and Mary Maloney conducts herself as she does. The story is rather comical and has an ironic twist leaving the reader without a firm conclusion. The title holds a dual meaning, the zany and the sad, reflecting the nature of the story.
In contrast “The Speckled Band” is a gripping story where the author builds up the suspense by introducing new clues and characters with depth. The author uses first person narrative which makes the reader feel involved in the story and adds to the interest. Even the title gives an air of mystery making the reader want to investigate.
I prefer “The Speckled Band” because it is a more structured story full of suspense and dignity. I like the authors use of descriptive language to create different moods. The story although traditional, is not predictable. The snake as a murder weapon adds an effective twist to the story. I enjoyed the way the story was written it made me feel involved in unraveling the mystery. I particularly enjoyed Holmes summing up the case and felt the story was brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
