English Literature- Lamb to the Slaughter

Lamb to the slaughter -Roald Dahl By P. Baburaj, Senior Lecturer, Dept. of English, Sherubtse college, Bhutan Author of oral communication and writing, DSB Publication Thimphu Communicative English, P. K. Books, Calicut A perception on Literary Criticism, P. K. Books, Calicut dim funniness/ macabrehumour -is concerned with the humorous treatment of the shocking, horrific and macabre. Black comedy is actually a form of drama which displays a marked disenchantment and cynicism.It shows human beings without conviction with little hope, regulated by fate or fortune or comprehensible powers. In fact, human beings in an chimerical predicament at its darkest, such comedy is pervaded by a chassis of sour despair we cant do anything. So we may as well laugh. The wit is mordant and the humor sardonic. prominent derision When the audience understands the implication and meaning of a situation on stage, or what is being said, scarcely the characters do not. Example-Oedipus does not rea lize his crime. Sir Peter Tezel (in tutor for scandal) does not know his wife is behind the screen when he is public lecture about Joseph Surface.Symbols. ? The warm and clean attic indicates the desire for normal interior(prenominal) pattern. ? The curtain drawn- shows a calm atmosphither that foreshadowing of privy subconscious desires that are yet to surface in the form of homicidal action. ? Two lamps alight- point to Mary and Patrick. ? Fresh ice cubes in the thermos bottle points to coldness and heat. Ice is cold and thermos brings heat to the mind. Contemporary story. ? horizontal surface tells of how a pregnant woman when faced with the certainty of her husband difference her, takes control of her situation. ? Powerful woman protagonist -breaking away from the stereotypical manipulation of a woman. Packed with suspense and humor. ? Fast-paced action. ? ? ? ? ? ? Third person omniscient narrative. Conventional and straight forward language. Role reversals- reversal of Mary the spanking innocent docile wife to a cruel murderer Dramatic irony, A type of situational irony. A best example of a black comedy. . . Contrasting what a character perceives and what the audience and one and only(a) or more of the characters know to be true. Revenge, pretence and ethics are some of the issues that one could explore in this story. Theme- love- betrayal, revenge and deception. Mary Maloney a victim and a villain. A faithful, docile pregnant wife who gets cheated. Story of? Married and a romantic couple. ? Maloneys unexplained decision to leave his wife.. ? invasion of the marriage law(deception) ? Marys killing of her husband and her ultimate deception ? ? ? ? ? ? Setting-Maloneys drawing room -Entire room of the house. -Sams grocery browse (short scene). ? Lamb is a Biblical Symbol of innocence/ symbol of peace, but here a powerful weapon of murder. ? So lamb symbolizes here violence, death and revenge- topsy-turvy to its conventional biblical concept. By P. Baburaj, Senior Lecturer, Dept. of English, Sherubtse college, Bhutan *********************************