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How is Mary misjudged in "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl?

I would say that Mary is misjudged in a few ways. 


First, the reader and Patrick believe and accept Mary as a completely mild-mannered and docile individual.  She is portrayed as the perfect doting wife who loves merely to sit in the presence of her husband and see to his every need.  Patrick assumes that he can tell her that he is leaving her for good, and Mary will do nothing about it other than...

I would say that Mary is misjudged in a few ways. 


First, the reader and Patrick believe and accept Mary as a completely mild-mannered and docile individual.  She is portrayed as the perfect doting wife who loves merely to sit in the presence of her husband and see to his every need.  Patrick assumes that he can tell her that he is leaving her for good, and Mary will do nothing about it other than politely accept her lot in life.  Patrick misjudges her capability to become angry enough to kill him.  


The reader misjudges her inner strength and resolve.  At no point in the first half of the story would I have guessed that Mary was capable of not only killing her husband, but also establishing an alibi.  Furthermore, I didn't think she had it in her to get rid of the murder weapon by feeding it to people.  


Lastly, I know the investigating officers misjudge Mary.  I know that she killed Patrick, and I know that she is lying.  The officers do not know those details, and Mary's alibi and docile nature fully convince the officers that she had nothing to do with Patrick's death.  



In fifteen minutes he was back with a page of notes, and there was more whispering, and through her sobbing she heard a few of the whispered phrases – “...acted quite normal...very cheerful...wanted to give him a good supper… peas... cheesecake... impossible that she...” 


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