Published in 1983, Roald Dahl’s remains one of the most celebrated—and controversial—works in children’s literature. Unlike the green-skinned, broomstick-riding hags of typical folklore, Dahl’s witches are terrifyingly ordinary. They are "demons in human shape," living among us as shopkeepers, teachers, and neighbors.
On the surface, Roald Dahl’s The Witches (1983) appears to be a simple fantasy: a boy, his wise Norwegian grandmother, and a plot to turn England’s children into mice. But beneath its surface of magic and mischief lies one of the most subversive, psychologically astute, and surprisingly empathetic works in children’s literature. Unlike many stories that soften the dangers of the adult world, The Witches stares directly into its abyss, then teaches its reader how to laugh at it. The Witches
The ending of the book remains one of the most debated in children's literature. Unlike the film adaptations, the book does not end with the boy becoming human again. After defeating the Grand High Witch, the boy and his grandmother return to Norway. They discuss the inevitable end of his life as a mouse—he will only live about nine years—but the boy is not sad. He is happy to die at roughly the same time as his grandmother, so they never have to be apart. Published in 1983, Roald Dahl’s remains one of
For many Millennials, the 1990 adaptation directed by Nicolas Roeg—simply titled The Witches —is the definitive version. While Dahl famously hated the film’s ending (we’ll get to that), the performance of as the Grand High Witch remains one of cinema’s greatest villain portrayals. On the surface, Roald Dahl’s The Witches (1983)
Before we compare the movies, we must return to the book. Roald Dahl was a master of writing for children without talking down to them. He understood that kids love to be scared—as long as they are armed with knowledge. Thus, Dahl wrote The Witches as a sort of "survival guide."