Lamb to slaughter

Conflict: External (Man vs. Man)

The main conflict in the story Lamb to slaughter is between Mary Maloney and her husband Patrick about how Mary feels betray from her. This is a man verses man conflict because Patrick want to leave pregnant Mary, she feels betray, and did the action of murder. The first reason is that in the text, it stated that her husband did things that are unusual such as “drained the drink in one swallow,” and shouting at her. And we can tell that this is already the starting and the rising action of the conflict. According to paragraph 38, it says, “And I know it’s kind of a bad time to be telling you, but there simply wasn’t any other way. Of course I’ll give you money and see you’re looked after. ” Which means Patrick wants to leave Mary and the child. Because this will make Patrick’s work easier, he decide to divorce with Mary, and this angered Mary. In paragraph 45. After Patrick reject Mary’s love for the second time, it says, “Mary Maloney simply walked up behind him and without any pause she swung the big frozen leg of lamb high in the air and brought it down as hard as she could on the back of his head.” She killed Patrick. This can really show the conflict because Mary just killed him with no Pause.