Roald Dahl’s “The Landlady” contains the theme of exploitation. This is evidenced from both the oblivious Billy and the devious landlady. An example of Billy’s apathy towards the ulterior motives of the landlady is when he first considers staying at the hotel. “The old girl is slightly dotty, Billy told himself. But at five and sixpence a night, who gives a damn about that? – “I should've thought you’d be simply swamped with applicants,’ he said politely.” This shows Billy’s disregard for the landlady’s state of mind, a major flaw that will eventually cost him his life. Taking advantage of this, the landlady kills the unsuspecting Billy (just when he was putting the puzzle pieces together, and was about to ascertain the lady’s plans). “‘Temple,’ Billy said. ‘Gregory Temple. Excuse my asking, but haven’t there been any other guests here except them in the last two or three years?’ Holding her teacup high in one hand, inclining her head slightly to the left, she looked up at him out of the corners of her eyes and gave him another gentle little smile. ‘No, my dear,’ she said. ‘Only you.'” (Dahl 5). This evidence portrays how the lady capitalizes on Billy’s naiveté to take his life (a perverse passion of hers). She entices him into a false sense of comfort, and strikes just prior to his uncovering of the truth, showing her exploitation of his innocent soul.