THEMES Betrayal Patrick Maloney's unexplained decision to leave his pregnant wife. This violation of the marriage-vow is obviously not the only betrayal in the story, however. Mary's killing of her husband is perhaps the ultimate betrayal. Her elaborately planned alibi and convincing lies to the detectives also constitute betrayal. Love and Passion At the beginning of "Lamb to the Slaughter, Mary Maloney feels love and physical passion for her husband Patrick. ...

• Word Count: 2792
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School

Pynchon uses imagery and symbolism to depict the inability to understand. ... Pynchon uses symbolism and imagery to illustrate the ramifications of hiding the truth. ... Pynchon continues his symbolism when Hilarious describes the "dark shapes". ... Bringing the symbol to life and giving it the knowledge to strike at Oedipa's most sensitive areas shows the struggle she undertakes to understand them. ...

• Word Count: 3055
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

Summary Ralph hides in the jungle and thinks miserably about the chaos that has overrun the island. He thinks about the deaths of Simon and Piggy and realizes that all vestiges of civilization have been stripped from the island. He stumbles across the sow's head, the "Lord of the Flies," now merely ...

• Word Count: 11237
• Approx Pages: 45
• Grade Level: High School