The Speckled Band by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl Essay Example

three rooms open onto the lawn, and on the fateful night of the incident, Dr Roylett retired to his room early. Though he was known to smoke strong Indian cigars, it was unusual for him to do so at that time of night. His sister, troubled by the smell, left her room and came to mine, where we chatted about the upcoming wedding.

At 11 o'clock, she stood up to go, pushing the door and then turning to ask Helen if she had ever heard someone whistle during the night. This style is dramatic and traditional, while "Lamb to the Slaughter" is an atypical murder mystery that takes place in a loving, domestic setting. This is a stark contrast to "The Speckled Band," which is set in an old and cryptic manor house. The initial paragraphs of "Lamb to the Slaughter" suggest that the story is unconventional, with phrases like "'Hello darling' 'Hello' he replied."

After taking his coat and hanging it in the closet, she proceeded to make drinks - a strong one for him and a weaker one for herself. Despite the murder mystery setting, this created a gentle atmosphere which was unconventional. The characters in "The Speckled Band" differ from those in the other story. Holmes, the detective, is highly intelligent and intriguing, typical of the genre. The victims are also stereotypical - Miss Stoner, for example, is timid and easily frightened.

Early in the story, Holmes displays his wit by deducing Miss Stoner's travel details. When she asks if Holmes knows her, he responds that he doesn't, but he noticed the second half of a return train ticket in her left glove. He notes

that she must have had an early start, as well as a challenging drive in heavy roads to reach the station in a dog cart.

Miss Stoner was left bewildered upon hearing this, which highlighted Holmes' exceptional intelligence in observing details - leaving a strong impression of his detective skills. Throughout the scene, Miss Stoner's behavior was apprehensive and cautious towards her environment and the people around her. As she says, "It is not cold that makes me shiver Mr. Holmes, it is fear..."

The victims and those requiring assistance in murder mysteries are often very predictable. Additionally, Dr Watson serves as the sidekick to Holmes, which has become a crucial element in murder mysteries to heighten the intelligence of the lead detective. Although his medical expertise portrays him as highly intelligent, when compared to Holmes, he appears to possess average intelligence, thus amplifying Holmes' reputation for being exceptionally astute. Finally, Dr Roylett is yet another common character in the murder mystery genre - serving as the antagonist.

The reader forms an image of a violent and ill-tempered man from the outset of "Lamb to the Slaughter". This is highlighted by his derogatory references to Holmes as a "Busy-body", "Meddler" and "Scotland yard jack-in-office". Additionally, he showcases his ferocity and strength by bending a solid iron poker. These characteristics make him a suitable villain, with minimal likeability. The unconventional nature of the story continues as the detectives in "Lamb to the Slaughter" are portrayed as unintelligent and lacking in the necessary skills to solve a mystery - a marked contrast to the detectives in "The Speckled Band".

In "Lamb to the Slaughter", the murder mystery genre is subverted with

unconventional characters. The detectives lack intelligence and act unprofessionally, opposite to the usual depiction in stories like "The Speckled Band" by Holmes and Watson. One of the main quotes, "Probably right under our noses", unknowingly reveals the truth. Mr and Mrs Maloney are also atypical characters. Mr Maloney, in particular, differs from traditional victims like Helen Stoner in "The Speckled Band" due to his strength, confidence, and detective profession. His dialogue, such as "No" or "Sit down", aligns him more with the villain in a typical murder story than a victim.

In a murder mystery, Mrs Maloney stands out as a unique killer due to her loving and devoted attitude towards her husband. She dotes on him, always willing to help him relax and enjoy himself, as evidenced by her offers for cheese or sympathy for his long days at work. These moments display her strong affection for him and make her unsuspecting until her ultimate act of killing. This diversion from the typical murder mystery genre creates anticipation in the story "Lamb to the Slaughter," as the audience wonders how Mrs Maloney will attempt to escape justice.

Despite being different from "The Speckled Band" in terms of its approach to murder mystery, "Lamb to the Slaughter" is still full of drama and suspense, making it more of an adventure than a traditional whodunit. While "The Speckled Band" follows the typical format of a whodunit with a villain, victim, detective, and clues that help the reader guess the killer's identity, "Lamb to the Slaughter" diverges from this formula. Instead, it presents a new version of events that allow readers to think outside the box when trying to

identify the murderer and how they carried out their crime.

The unconventional storyline in "Lamb to the Slaughter" appealed to me more than the typical murder mystery plot in "The Speckled Band." While Sir Arthur Conan Doyle established the murder mystery trope with his Holmes and Watson stories, the complexity of the clues and thought processes of the detectives made it less appealing than Dahl's work. Additionally, the archaic language in Doyle's story made it harder to understand and read compared to "Lamb to the Slaughter," where the plot flowed smoothly. The ending of "Lamb to the Slaughter" was unexpected, as Mrs. Maloney did not crumble under pressure from detectives despite having killed her husband, whom she initially loved at the story's beginning.

"Lamb to the slaughter" and "The Speckled Band" were both enjoyable to read, but for different reasons. The former put a smile on my face with its ending, while the latter was satisfying due to its suspenseful plot. However, it was slightly less satisfying than "Lamb to the Slaughter" due to its longer length as a short story.