'Suspense And Horror In Roald Dahl's The Landlady'

Mystery, suspense and horror are some categories that Roald Dahl’s “The Landlady” can be put into. Billy Weaver, a naive young businessman, was sent to Bath, England to take up his first job. During his stay in one of the city’s local bed and breakfasts, his lack of attentiveness caused him to be another one of the owner’s rather unfortunate tenants. Although he seemed to be very wise and mature for his age I was surprised to find that he became another subject to the landlady’s baleful practice. However, this has been pertinent to the central theme of this piece; always be aware of what’s happening.

Right from the start there are places where Billy Weaver should have noticed that the Bed and Breakfast was a no-go. There was, “A vase of yellow

For example, when, “He hadn’t even had time to take his finger from the bell-button - the door swung open and a woman was standing there.” Almost as if the landlady was waiting for him to arrive. Weaver continues to be in denial of the landlady’s rather odd state of mind, “Now the fact that his landlady appeared to be slightly off her rocker didn’t worry Billy in the least. After all, she was not only harmless - there was no doubt about that…” Billy, being his oblivious self, decided that he should have a stereotypical mindset and think about how the lady was probably just a pitiful old woman in desperate need of attention. Having been alone for such long time.

Now some argue that that main theme of the text would be something else; appearances can be deceiving. If that was the case the landlady wouldn’t have spoken at all. In my opinion words played a very important part in misleading Billy Weaver. Phrases such as, “And what about supper, my dear? Did you manage to get anything to eat before you came here, ” made the old woman appear almost mother-like to Billy. Though the relationship became less mother-son and more of Jerry and Tom. The landlady being Jerry managed to outwit Tom, Bill Weaver, using their astute