The art of deception is a dangerous tool that can be proven useful and necessary in times of need. It can be used with words, visuals, or empty silence. The three short stories by Stephen King, Roald Dahl, and Charlie Fish use characterization to emphasize the antagonists use of deceit. The people in the tales are portrayed in a particular fashion in order to aid the recurring theme throughout the plot. The Man Who Loved Flowers, Lamb to the Slaughter, and Death by Scrabble are three short stories that center around deception and how it can be used in various forms.
The Man Who Loved Flowers by Stephen King is a story about a murderer who fools everyone into thinking he is just a young man in love. The main theme in the fictional literature is that people are not always who they seem to be. Throughout the piece, King describes Love as a happy fellow who enchants everyone around him. On page 4, the author writes, “A middle aged married couple sitting on the steps of their building watched him go by, head cocked, eyes afar away, a half-smile on his lips. when he had passed by the woman said, 'How come you never look that way anymore?'” After the man murders yet another victim, King includes this scene in order for the reader to understand how deceptive this character is and how he uses his walk, smile, and clothing to trick others.
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The theme in the writing piece is that love can lead to deception. Mary Maloney had adored and been a good wife to her husband, Patrick, for many years, so for her to pretend to be faultless and shocked was not difficult. In the short story, Dahl states, “Both the smile and the voice sounded better now. She practiced them several times more” (2). Mrs. Maloney uses her features and gentle speech in order to deceive Sam and the detectives. She uses her previous love for Patrick as a cover to hide her