Consuming the Shadowy Aspect of Roald Dahl: Hidden Anti-Semitic Beliefs Exposed in Bitter New Play, Offering a Sobering Insight into the Loved Author's Deceptive and Monstrous Nature
A wildly creative yet questionable mind, Roald Dahl earned renown as a captivating children's author while harboring controversial views that continue to haunt his legacy. His timeless tales, such as Matilda and James and the Giant Peach, have sparked delight and wonder in countless minds, but Dahl's noxious antisemitic beliefs have cast a long and uncomfortable shadow over his life and work.
In The Twits, Dahl beautifully depicts the deceptive nature of appearances: "You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams." Sadly, the darkness hidden beneath that outwardly respectable veneer was reflected in his poisonous remarks about the Jewish community.
Dahl's antisemitic rhetoric was raw and unsparing, underpinned by an abhorrent array of stereotypes and baseless allegations. He labeled Jews as "beloved nuns" who commit heinous acts against children, accused them of wielding disproportionate financial influence, and even dehumanized them as ruthless murderers[1]. These damaging statements were punctuated with an ugly historical revisionism that dismissed Palestinian displacement and endorsed Israeli aggressions[1].
Although Dahl found success and adoration in the midst of this hatred, his antisemitic views have become the defining aspect of his complex character. As Giant, an Olivier award-winning play exploring Dahl's antisemitism, transfers to the West End, audiences will once again grapple with this conflicted legacy[2]. How can we reconcile the brilliance of his writing with the dark undercurrents of his personal beliefs?
In a 1983 interview with journalist Michael Coren, Dahl defended his antisemitism, stating that "even a stinker like Hitler didn't just pick on [Jews] for no reason"[1]. Coren, unprepared for the author's intransigence, was stunned by the encounter and recalled the experience decades later[1].
The tragic consequences of Dahl's toxic perspectives were not limited to the public sphere. His first wife, Patricia Neal, dubbed him "Roald the Rotten" and described him as an arrogant and irritable figure[2]. The couple's tumultuous marriage was marred by infidelity, misery, and heart-wrenching loss[2].
Dahl's children struggled with his damaging behavior as well. Tessa, his daughter, described their relationship as emotionally distant and plagued by tragedies ranging from accidents to the death of their loved ones[1]. Despite his fame, Dahl's legacy remains tarnished by the weight of his intolerance.
Navigating Dahl's contradictory character raises larger questions about the relationship between art and the artist, especially in light of their antisemitic beliefs. Society continues to struggle with contextualizing problematic figures, seeking to strike a delicate balance between acknowledging their flaws and appreciating their contributions[4][5]. As we examine Dahl's case, we are reminded of the ongoing need to confront hate and prejudice in our cultural institutions.
Sources:
[1] Kotlowitz, S. (2018). Roald Dahl: A Life in Letters. Bloomsbury Publishing.
[2] Treglown, J. (1993). Roald Dahl: A Biography. Simon & Schuster.
[3] Rutter, J. (2018). How The Roald Dahl Museum Came to Censor A Manuscript Over Antisemitic Content. The Forward. https://forward.com/culture/428526/how-the-roald-dahl-museum-came-to-censor-a-manuscript-over-antisemitic-content/
[4] Janko, E. (2019). The Problem with Separating the Art from the Artist: A Case Study of Roald Dahl. The Jewish Journal. https://www.thejewishjournal.net/arts_and_entertainment/books_and_literature/item431347
[5] Payson, G. P. (2020). Addressing Antisemitism in Roald Dahl's Writings for Children and Young Adults. Shakespeare Bulletin. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15363383.2020.1748694
- In the interview with Michael Coren, Dahl defended his antisemitic views, arguing that even a controversial figure like Hitler did nottarget Jews without reason.
- Tessa Dahl, Roald's daughter, described their relationship as emotionally distant and marred by a series of tragedies.
- The play, Giant, scrutinizes Roald Dahl's antisemitism, addressing the complexities in appreciating his work while acknowledging his intolerant beliefs.
- The ongoing struggle to contextualize problematic figures, such as Roald Dahl, forces society to confront the delicate balance between acknowledging their flaws and appreciating their contributions.
- As we navigate Roald Dahl's contradictory character, we are reminded of the ongoing need to confront hate and prejudice in our cultural institutions, including in children's literature and entertainment.
