T H E M E S W I T H I N R O A L D D A H L C H I L D R E N B O O K S :
Throughout many of Dahl’s childrens books, there are dark and twisty themes. He pushes the boundaries and satisfies children’s appetite for the violent, greedy, gruesome and disgusting. Take James and the Giant Peach- his parent’s die a violent death at the expense of a rhinoceros and James is sent to live with his wicked aunties. This is a common theme within Dahl’s works- the solitary child at the mercy of cruel adults. What is to follow is James taking revenge against the adults. Dahl includes grotesques events within his books such as Mrs. Twit giving her husband worms instead of spaghetti and children-eating giants in the BFG. Greed and punishment is prevalent in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when Violet Beauregarde swells into a blueberry and other naughty children receive diabolical revenges, or when Bruce from Matilda is made to eat a whole chocolate cake. Additionally, George from George’s Marvelous Medicine creates a horrible cure for his grandmother’s ways, and Matilda’s parents horribly mistreat her. Probably the most important theme that Dahl portrays is that the good, young and kind triumph over the old, greedy and wicked.
Additionally, almost all of Dahl’s childrens books are told from a child’s perspective. This ensures that the novels/stories are easy to relate to. Dahl’s novels allow readers to lead the stories, act on their own and even act against the wishes of adults.
Additionally, almost all of Dahl’s childrens books are told from a child’s perspective. This ensures that the novels/stories are easy to relate to. Dahl’s novels allow readers to lead the stories, act on their own and even act against the wishes of adults.