The Concepts of Crime and Punishment in Roald Dahl Fiction

The concepts of crime and punishment in the fiction of Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl is probably one of the most noted writers of his time. His style of writing has earned him quite a large following of readers. His books cater to all ages from children to adults. He is equally popular for his children’s books as he is for his short stories and novels for adults. One of the earliest works of Roald Dahl was “Shot Down To Libya” which was inspired by a meeting with C.S. Forester. It was the first of his works to be published. It is now published as “a piece of cake”.

In all his books, a pattern may be noticed. Most of his stories have a surprise ending. The concept of crime and punishment is almost essential is every story of his. Among his more than 60 short stories, a lot of them have themes of revenge.
Like in “galloping Foxley”, the main character Perkins sees a familiar man on his daily 8:12 train. He quickly recognizes him as Foxley, an old school mate of his who was also a prefect in school. When they were in school Foxley used to mistreat Perkins. He had practically enslaved him. He decides to take revenge and goes up to the supposed Foxley and introduces himself and subsequently humiliates him in front of everybody in the train by reminding him of how he used to ill treat him in school. But this backfires on him when the man gives him a different name and school and turns out not to be the Foxley though it is suggested that the man is lying.

In another one of his short stories, “Nunc Demittis” also known as “ the devious bachelor”, the main character Lionel Lampson hears from an unreliable source that his younger girlfriend has been calling him a ‘crashing bore’ behind his back. Again here to take revenge, he hires artist John Roydon to make a painting of his girlfriend. Roydon’s unique style of painting involved him painting the subject at first nude and then adding the several layers of clothing one at a time. When the painting was done Lampson erased the top layer of clothing off the painting revealing her in her under clothes. He then proceeded to display the painting at a party at his house and left quietly not before seeing the look on his girlfriend’s face. A few days later, he received caviar and a letter from his girlfriend saying that she still loved him and forgave him for his prank. Caviar being his favourite food he could not resist eating some of it. As soon as he swallows it he falls violently ill. The story ends here. It is thus suggested that the caviar may be poisoned by his girlfriend for revenge.

Even in his books for children, Dahl always has this small collection of set characters in every story. There is always the evil adult who mistreats children. Then there is the good adult who is sensible and comes to the aide of the main character, invariably a child. Then there is the fat boy or girl, a glutton who is punished for his gluttony. These characters are always somehow featured in most of his stories. Examples of such are Augustus Gloop in “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory”, Bruce Bogtrotter in “Matilda”, aunt sponge in “james and the giant peach”.The method in which these characters meet their punishments are always portrayed in a comical, exaggerated often grotesque manner.

Dahl is known for his quirkiness. His sense of humour is impeccable. Even it has been 18 years since his demise and even longer since he stopped writing, his books are still read and loved by all.