Similarities Between Desiree's Baby And Lamb To The Slaughter

A close examination of Desiree, the protagonist of “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin, and Mary Maloney, the protagonist of “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl. In both short stories the protagonist react to their encounter with death differently as a result of someone dying.
The similarities between “Desiree’s Baby” and “Lamb to the slaughter” is that in both short stories the protagonist is pregnant and the antagonist doesn't want to be with the character (protagonist). For example, in Desiree’s Baby the protagonist Desiree says “Do you want me to go?” and the antagonist Armand her significant other replies “Yes I want you go.” This illustrates that Armand no longer wants to be around Desiree nor in the baby’s life. In “Lamb to the slaughter”

In addition to “Lamb to the Slaughter” the antagonist Patrick is willing to help Mary out with the baby, but no longer wants to be with her. For example, in “Desiree’s Baby” Armand says “that the child is not white; it means you are not white.” This illustrates that Armand is racist because he claims the baby isn’t his based on his colored skin. Furthermore, in “Lamb to the Slaughter” Patrick gives Mary horrific news saying “Of course, I’ll give you money and see that you’re taken care of..” This illustrates that he will make sure she is in good condition with the baby and he’s willingly to help her out; however, he does not want to be with

For instance in “Desiree’s baby” the narrator says “Desiree was miserable enough to die” This illustrates that Chopin evaluates the leading death of the character Desiree by using foreshadow. Unlike in “Lamb to the Slaughter” the narrator mentions “Did they kill them both -- mother and child? Did they wait until the baby was born? What did they do? Mary Maloney didn’t know what to do and she wasn’t prepared to take a chance.” This illustrates that Roald evaluates the theme motherhood because Mary doesn’t take a risk of killing the baby; therefore, she puts the baby first before herself. Furthermore, another difference is that in “Lamb to the Slaughter” Roald employs irony because the murderer Mary Maloney is asking the police to eat the murder weapon which is the lamb she cooks. For example, Mary says “Personally, I couldn’t eat a thing, but it’d be a favor to me if you ate it up…” also when the cops are talking one of them say “It’s probably right under our noses. What do you think, Jack?” while Mary began to laugh in the other