The main conflict in Roald Dahl’s short story ‘The Landlady’ revolves around the protagonist, Billy Weaver, and his unsettling encounter with the landlady. Billy, a young man traveling on business, decides to stay at a seemingly charming bed and breakfast. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that the landlady has sinister intentions.
The conflict is primarily internal, as Billy gradually senses that something is amiss but struggles to fully comprehend the danger he is in. The landlady’s overly friendly demeanor and peculiar behavior create a sense of unease. The external conflict is between Billy and the landlady, who is revealed to be a malevolent figure with a dark secret.
As the story unfolds, the tension builds, and the reader realizes that the landlady has likely preserved the bodies of her previous guests. The conflict reaches its climax when Billy drinks a cup of tea that is implied to be poisoned, sealing his fate. The story ends on a chilling note, leaving the reader to ponder the full extent of the landlady’s malevolence.