The Landlady by Roald Dahl

Overview

• Protagonist: Billy Weaver, a 17-year-old boy
• Setting: The city of Bath, England
• Plot: Billy is searching for a place to stay and comes across a bed and breakfast run by a peculiar landlady.
• Themes: Suspense, deception, naivety

Key Events

Arrival in Bath

• Billy arrives in Bath around 9 PM.
• He is advised by a porter to try The Bell and Dragon, a nearby pub.

Encounter with the Landlady

• Billy notices a 'BED AND BREAKFAST' sign in a house window.
• The house appears warm and inviting with a dachshund and a parrot, indicating a cozy atmosphere.
• Billy is drawn to the house despite initial intentions to go to the pub.

The Landlady

• Description: Appears to be in her mid-forties or fifties, gives a warm welcome.
• Personality: Seems a bit eccentric but harmless; very particular about her guests.
• Price: Offers a very reasonable price for the room, five and sixpence a night.

The Boarding House

• Billy enters and notices it is very quiet, with no signs of other guests.
• The landlady claims she is selective and only accepts guests that are 'just right.'

Suspense Builds

• Billy signs the guest book and notices only two other entries: Christopher Mulholland and Gregory W. Temple.
• The names seem familiar to Billy, though he cannot immediately place them.

Strange Revelations

• The landlady mentions that the previous guests, Mulholland and Temple, are still there.
• She reveals that she stuffed her pet animals herself, including the dachshund and the parrot.

Hints of Danger

• Billy notices the tea tastes of bitter almonds, a possible reference to cyanide.
• The landlady's comments suggest that something sinister happened to the previous guests.

Important Details

• Noticeable Features: The landlady has quick, white hands with red fingernails.
• Atmosphere: The house is warm and cozy but carries a peculiar smell and an unsettling vibe.
• Ending: Leaves the reader with a sense of foreboding as Billy realizes he may be in danger.

Themes & Analysis

• Suspense & Mystery: Built through the strange familiarity of names and the landlady's odd behavior.
• Deception & Naivety: Billy's naivety leads him to ignore warning signs about the landlady.
• Eerie Ambiance: Taxidermied pets and the landlady's fixation on her guests create a chilling atmosphere.

Conclusion

"The Landlady" is a classic suspenseful tale by Roald Dahl that explores themes of deception and curiosity in a seemingly benign setting. The story leaves readers questioning the fate of Billy and the true nature of the landlady.