The thing about Dahl's work that makes it so appealing for me is that he recognizes that children are not oblivious to the message that the world is neither a safe nor forgiving place--ironically, a message driven home in the original versions of the very stories he satirizes in Revolting Rhymes. He recognizes this, but is never patronizing. Instead, he approaches warty realities in a way that should be applicable at any stage in life--with a certain degree of realism, but most importantly, with a cool head and a sense of humor.
In a sense, Dahl is responding to the way he most likely heard the stories told growing up--with the moral "OBEY YOUR PARENTS OR ELSE!!!" and certainly with the notion that the child protagonist can do nothing to save herself and is at the mercy of the adults in her life. Similar to the way his other stories feature independent children taking matters into their own hands, Dahl's Red Riding Hood isn't about to take any of the Wolf's nonsense about making her his next meal, and promptly takes him out.
I like what you said about how Dahl's version relays the story with a "certain degree of realism, but most importantly, with a cool head and a sense of humor." The realism aspect is key. As we have discussed in class, fairy tales always seem to lack a degree of realism, and sometimes seem so far out there that it makes it difficult to relate to the characters. But the sense of humour that Dahl instills brings the several characters in LRRH back down to earth, and more on our level.
ReplyDeletethe realistic aspects enabel us to better understand the world and see it as it is: not a forgiving place.
I have always been a huge Roald Dahl fan, and agree with what you said. In all of his books, including his version of Little Red Riding Hood, he portrays children as both independent, and capable.
ReplyDeleteI personally saw Dahl's interpretation as intended for older audiences rather than children, but I do agree that in his other works such as Matilda he uses the brave child as his main character. (Sorry I don't have a better example of his work! Matilda is all I know!)
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comments and would like to examine the audience he targeted and why he adapted the story the way he did. I think that he may have target adults and I suggest that his adaptation might reflect the change of times. LLRH might reflect the image of the woman projected by the women's right's movement. She doesn't take any crap, she is agressive, she is smart, she uses her brain, she can defend her self, and she is independent. She has a more dimensional personality where as the other LLRH are flat. It suggests the acceptance of violence especially by women and the rejection of the completely virtuous woman.
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