The landlady
Kendra Norello
6/3/14
Comp 11
Mrs. Liendo
The Landlady analysis
"I don't love men: I love what devours them." An evident theme in “The Landlady” by Roald Dahl is that appearances are deceptive. Billy, due to his naïveté, is taken in by the landlady, thus portraying insufficient caution. In one instance, when he rings the bell of the landlady’s house, he is immediately informed that the rent required is “fantastically cheap.” This compels him to stay there. Yet the house is surrounded in comfort and luxury with “a pretty little dachshund” and a “plump sofa.” Such material convenience is synonymous with exorbitant charges but he is not suspicious of the fiendish schemes brewing in her mind. It is ironical that he found the rent reasonable, for his naïveté has, ultimately, to pay an even higher price – his life.
The landlady’s external veneer is attractive; she seems warm and kind with “gentle blue eyes.” So courteous is she that she has thoughtfully prepared Bill’s room. She is depicted as being affectionate such as calling him an endearment, “dear.” This draws him to her. Such wonderful treatment is highly suggestive of concealed evil and ulterior motives, yet Billy suspects nothing. She wishes to preserve his corpse, but he believes her to be a good woman. This may result in his luckless demise. Moreover, the landlady generously prepared tea for him, which he accepts. The tea tastes of “bitter almonds’ and he is still innocent to her devious schemes. "Each word was like a large black eye staring at him through the glass, holding him, compelling him, forcing him to stay where he was and not walk away from the house." (Pg.172). The author uses this suspenseful language to engage the readers to get a chill up their spine while the story intensifies throughout the ending. Another fear provoking word demonstrated in this following sentence: "The air was dead cold, the wind was like a blade hitting his face." (Pg.171). The author uses
6/3/14
Comp 11
Mrs. Liendo
The Landlady analysis
"I don't love men: I love what devours them." An evident theme in “The Landlady” by Roald Dahl is that appearances are deceptive. Billy, due to his naïveté, is taken in by the landlady, thus portraying insufficient caution. In one instance, when he rings the bell of the landlady’s house, he is immediately informed that the rent required is “fantastically cheap.” This compels him to stay there. Yet the house is surrounded in comfort and luxury with “a pretty little dachshund” and a “plump sofa.” Such material convenience is synonymous with exorbitant charges but he is not suspicious of the fiendish schemes brewing in her mind. It is ironical that he found the rent reasonable, for his naïveté has, ultimately, to pay an even higher price – his life.
The landlady’s external veneer is attractive; she seems warm and kind with “gentle blue eyes.” So courteous is she that she has thoughtfully prepared Bill’s room. She is depicted as being affectionate such as calling him an endearment, “dear.” This draws him to her. Such wonderful treatment is highly suggestive of concealed evil and ulterior motives, yet Billy suspects nothing. She wishes to preserve his corpse, but he believes her to be a good woman. This may result in his luckless demise. Moreover, the landlady generously prepared tea for him, which he accepts. The tea tastes of “bitter almonds’ and he is still innocent to her devious schemes. "Each word was like a large black eye staring at him through the glass, holding him, compelling him, forcing him to stay where he was and not walk away from the house." (Pg.172). The author uses this suspenseful language to engage the readers to get a chill up their spine while the story intensifies throughout the ending. Another fear provoking word demonstrated in this following sentence: "The air was dead cold, the wind was like a blade hitting his face." (Pg.171). The author uses