But in Dahl, the parents are often sadists like in Matilda. Rosen says "In Hansel and Gretel the father is poor and only gets rid of the children against his better wishes. However, Dahl took things beyond masochism to sadism. He believes that fairy tales often have a dark character like the witch in ‘Hansel and Gretel’. 8) The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More (1977) The Henry Sugar anthology is an odd one to consume in the middle of a Roald Dahl binge, but it’s always been one of my favorites. In discussion with the same agency, Michael Rosen, English children’s author also points out something along the same lines as of Amanda Craig. It is a simple duality that children are used to, and Dahl experiments with the same. So, if you like your short stories with pepper, you can do no better than to visit the twisted world of Roald Dahl. Craig notes that in the Freudian sense, female characters are either kind and affectionate like the "supportive, luscious peach" or wicked like the aunts. Things are not what they seem and Dahl makes sure to throw in a one-two punch of surprises within.To use a Hollywoodism, I would say this is like O. In conversation with a leading British news agency, Amanda Craig, British critic and journalist, mentioned that there is a "streak of rather unpleasant misogyny" prevalent in Dahl’s books. With the help of some unlikely friends like a centipede, earthworm and grasshopper, James crushes the aunts with the peach and soars away. As the story progresses, another Dahl theme-a child taking revenge against adults becomes visible. Moreover, even though comically, but Dahl depicted the follies and sins of the adult world in his works.Ĭonsidering the plot of ‘James and the Giant Peach’, which revolves around four-year-old James and his wicked aunts, one could straightaway point out a traditional Dahl theme-the lonely child at the mercy of cruel adults. Through his works like ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, ‘James and the Giant Peach’, ‘Matilda’, ‘The Twits’, ‘The BFG’, to name a few, Dahl created a world that was favoured even by adults who wanted to escape their busy and tiring lives. He pursued a different path, satiating children's craving for the vicious, desirous and filthy. More importantly, he also challenged the general belief that children's literature involves endless picnics and fun. Many writers have successfully managed to capture the essence of the world-as it seems to children-in the most ornate manner, Roald Dahl being the finest among them. The soul of children is devoid of the numerous things that plague and weigh them down in adulthood. Looking at the world through a child’s eyes is a delightful experience.