In Roald Dahl’s short story ‘The Landlady’, Billy Weaver finds the landlady to be a little odd due to several peculiar behaviors and characteristics she exhibits. Here are some reasons why Billy thinks she is unusual:
- Her Appearance: The landlady’s appearance is described as somewhat strange. She has a ‘pale, round, and slightly bulging’ face, which gives her an eerie look. Her eyes are also described as ’round and moist’, adding to her unsettling presence.
- Her Behavior: The landlady’s behavior is overly friendly and welcoming, which makes Billy feel uneasy. She seems to know too much about him and even remembers the names of previous guests, which is unusual for someone who runs a boarding house.
- Her Knowledge of Previous Guests: The landlady mentions two previous guests, Christopher Mulholland and Gregory Temple, who stayed at her boarding house. She remembers their names and details about them, which is odd because it suggests they never left. This raises suspicions in Billy’s mind.
- The Atmosphere of the House: The boarding house itself has a strange atmosphere. It is described as being ‘deadly silent’ and having a ‘peculiar smell’, which adds to the overall sense of unease.
- Her Interest in Billy: The landlady seems overly interested in Billy, asking him personal questions and watching him closely. This behavior makes Billy feel uncomfortable and adds to his suspicion that something is not right.
All these factors contribute to Billy’s growing sense that the landlady is a little odd, and they foreshadow the dark twist at the end of the story.