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In "Lamb to the Slaughter," Mary Maloney's dialogue is distinctive in this story. Her way of speaking to others doesn't change, even after she has...

The consistent nature of Mary's dialogue helps the reader to compare and contrast her, before and after the crime. In doing so, the reader can also make conjectures about Mary's state of mind, her true character, and the internal factors that motivate her to be how she is. 


The way that she is able to control the atmosphere of the house, and the manner in which she maintains consistency in the midst of chaos, helps...

The consistent nature of Mary's dialogue helps the reader to compare and contrast her, before and after the crime. In doing so, the reader can also make conjectures about Mary's state of mind, her true character, and the internal factors that motivate her to be how she is. 


The way that she is able to control the atmosphere of the house, and the manner in which she maintains consistency in the midst of chaos, helps the reader see right through Mary's manipulative nature. Sweet and subservient as she may be, she still holds the strings tightly throughout very chaotic times. One must question whether her submissive behavior has a bigger and more direct purpose. This, however, is never revealed. 


Therefore, the effect that the writer creates is one of speculation. The reader no longer has complete knowledge or understanding of the character as her lack of affective tuning, or reacting according to the situation, renders her hard to predict.



And in the other room, Mary Maloney began to giggle.



The speculation that is created from the strange behavior from Mary is what makes the character so mysterious and enigmatic, creating a completely different atmosphere in the reading of the story from beginning to end. 

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