In Roald Dahl's short story "The Landlady," the character of the landlady can be considered guilty in several ways. Here are three reasons, along with evidence from the text to support each point:
1. Murderous Intent
- Evidence: The landlady seems to have sinister intentions regarding her guests. She mentions that she hasn't had a lodger in some time and that her previous guests, including Mr. Mulholland and Mr. Temple, never left her bed and breakfast. This suggests that something nefarious has happened to them, implying that she may have murdered them for her own gain or out of obsessive tendencies.
2. Taxidermy of Her Victims
- Evidence: When the protagonist, Billy, observes the stuffed animals in the landlady's establishment, he notices that there are two stuffed men that bear a striking resemblance to the names of her previous lodgers. The conversation reveals her pride in her taxidermy skills, and this eerie similarity suggests that she has preserved her victims after killing them. This act of taxidermy serves as physical evidence of her guilt and malice towards her guests.
3. Luring Innocent Victims
- Evidence: The landlady’s deceptive charm is another indication of her guilt. She is welcoming and appears harmless at first, which allows her to lure unsuspecting young men like Billy into her home. Her manipulative nature is highlighted when she convinces him to stay despite his initial hesitation; this premeditation of using her charm to ensnare her victims demonstrates her culpability in the events that unfold.
Conclusion
Through her actions and the unsettling evidence presented in the narrative, the landlady emerges as a guilty character whose charming demeanor conceals a dark and deadly reality. This complexity allows for a rich exploration of themes like appearances versus reality and the nature of evil in Dahl's story.