Lamb to the Slaughter | Themes
In "Lamb to the Slaughter," Dahl explores the theme of devotion. Mary is devoted to her husband until he announces that he wants their marriage to end. After she kills him, she works out a scheme to create an alibi, not so much for her own sake, as for her unborn baby's: "She began thinking very fast. As the wife of a detective, she knew quite well what the penalty would be. That was fine. It made no difference to her. In fact, it would be a relief. On the other hand, what about the child? What were the laws about murderers and unborn children?" Mary would surrender her own life...
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