In the story entitled "Lamb to the Slaughter" Mary Maloney is the protagonist. Her husband, Patrick Maloney, is the antagonist. Mary Maloney is the protagonist, around whom the story revolves. This makes her the protagonist. The protagonist suggests a positive quality and although many protagonists are good people or heroes, this is not always the problem: obviously, Maria's heroism is arguable to say that she is a good person or a hero. The protagonist is simply the protagonist: Maria. We can say that Patrick is the antagonist because he is the one who opposes Mary. However, a reader might argue that Mary is also the antagonist because she opposes Patrick and, or opposes him when he reveals that he is leaving her. But Patrick can't be the protagonist. In the story, entitled "The Sniper", the main character, the Republican sniper, is the protagonist. Because it is the main character that "The Sniper" is about who learns the pain of war. Even those who take this story to the end. The antagonist is the sniper, who fights against the republican sniper, the main character, trying to kill him. The protagonist and the antagonist are two diametrically opposed characters. The story ''The Lamb to the Slaughter'' and the story ''The Sniper'' both present different conflicts. In the story ''The Lamb to the Slaughter'' Mary has a conflict. Her conflict is to protect her unborn child, no matter what. She is surprised by her ability to send her husband away so quickly. But it is the thought of the child inside her that focuses her attention on hiding the crime. First begin to consider the future for both of you.'' It was remarkable, now, how suddenly clear his mind had become. He started with a thin sheet of paper... halfway through the paper... he thought everything was fine; she was pregnant, radiant, happy. She has prepared his meals and has no reason to suspect he is unhappy. Then, he drops the bomb and says he's leaving and to try not to make "any fuss... it wouldn't be very good for my job." This was a shocking betrayal for her. Ironically, he later betrays his friends, covering up the crime. In the story "The Sniper" the main theme is division or partition. The other countries besides Ireland demonstrate how bloody and painful this "partition" of a country can be. India and Pakistan suffered a bloodbath after the departure of the British. Many families had members who had different opinions. This would have been shouted in many homes and children, fathers, grandparents, uncles and mothers would have belonged to a particular side - and not always the same in every family..