I believe that Mary Maloney was not a psychopath but she was simply in shock. When people receive tragic news they react in numerous different ways. For example some people cry and scream while others may physically hurt themselves or even commit suicide. Many might just need to be left alone so that it can sink in and still others turn to “pain killers” such as overeating, alcohol, drugs, etc. In this story marry loses control for just a minute or 2 and in that daze does something she will most likely regret for the rest of her life. She kills her husband Patrick Maloney. At the beginning of the story through her actions you see that Mary Maloney is a sweet, submissive, devoted wife who loves her husband very much. When Patrick Maloney cruelly came home and without thinking twice shattered her heart to pieces she immediately went into a state shock and just lost it for a moment. In order to fully comprehend what Mary felt you need to understand that she was pregnant and had always tried to do everything in her power to please Patrick. When he said that he wanted to leave she must have felt as though all her efforts had been in vain and her whole world had come crashing down around her. Not only had he abandoned but also their child who would never know its father and always wonder why he hadn’t wanted to be part of its life. During that moment Mary had been unable to control her actions and round up doing something she hadn’t wanted to do. You as a reader know that because after when she tried to cover it up on page 15 she says “It was easy. No acting necessary.” That proves that Mary truly did not want him dead. The killing had been unintentional and uncontrollable. Therefore that is why I believe that Mary Maloney is completely sane.