Compare “the Speckled Band” and “Lamb To the Slaughter”

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Ian Craddock

YEAR 10 ESSAY,

 COMPARE

“THE SPECKLED BAND”

 AND

“LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER”

        The first story “the speckled band” was set in the 1800’s and several details make this clear. For example, “It was early in April, in the year ‘83” and “A lady dressed in black and heavily veiled”, these two quotes are to show how we know it was based in the 1800’s, because people were not heavily veiled in the 1900’s.

        In contrast the “Lamb to the Slaughter” is set in the 20th Century.  This is shown by “On the Sideboard, behind her two tall glasses, soda water and whiskey.  Fresh ice cubes in the thermos bucket”.  This quote shows us that it is set in the 20th Century in the way that thermos bucket’s are only a recent invention.  

In “The Speckled Band” the murderer is Dr Grimesby Roylott and he is a typical murderer because he is strong and has an aggressive attitude towards everyone around him.  “In a fit of anger, however, caused by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital sentence”.  This quote shows you that it would not have been the first time that he would have killed someone.  Dr Grimesby Roylott also had a very obvious reason to kill his step daughters before they got married as he would be ruined, as the step daughter is entitled to have an annual income out of what Dr Grimesby Roylott income from Mrs Stoner’s will, his wife.  “Each daughter can claim an income of £250.00 in case of marriage”.

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However the murderer in “Lamb to the Slaughter” is very different because Mary Maloney is female which is unusual and she is also pregnant”.  Her skin for this was her sixth month with child”.  This quote shows us that she is six month pregnant.  She is also a very loving and caring wife.  Now and again she would glance up at the clock, but without anxiety merely to please herself with the thought that each minute gone by made it nearer the time when he would come”.  This quote shows us that she likes the company of her husband ...

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