In "Lamb to the Slaughter," how is Mary Maloney "caged"?In the play Trifles, Minnie Wright is obviously caged and oppressed by her husband. How is...

This is a really interesting question to think about. I
guess if you want to take this line you can definitely argue that Mary Maloney is
"caged," however her cage is of a very different nature than the cage of Minnie Wright.
The beginning of "Lamb to the Slaughter" makes it absolutely clear that Mary Maloney is
completely obsessed with her husband. Consider the following
quote:

For
her, this was always a blissful time of day. She knew he didn't want to speak much until
the first drink was finished, and she, on her side, was content to sit quietly, enjoying
his company after the long hours alone in the house. She loved to luxuriate in the
presence of this man, and to feel--almost as a sunbather feels the sun--that warm male
glow that came out of him to her when they were alone
together.

This is just one
example of how Mary Maloney has assumed a completely servile role to her husband. Note
how she almost basks in front of him, comparing herself to a sunbather. It appears that
her entire reason for being is dependent on her service and love for her husband. She
appears to have no identity outside of that role. Feminists would argue that this would
be just as much of a "cage" as that of Minnie Wright. The only difference is that Mary
Maloney does not know it is a cage.