How to Recognize a Witch

"The Witches", first published in 1983, is about the Grand High Witch who wants every child in Britain to be rubbed out, squashed, squirted, and frittered. The likes of her can't stand the smell of children.

Roald Dahl knew his subject matter, as the belief in witchcraft in Europe could be traced back to classical antiquity. Many would recall Circe, but not Theoris. The latter was denounced by Demosthenes for necromancy, and was publicly tried for it. In Ancient Rome, black magic was considered a capital offense. During the Early Middle Age, witchcraft was seen as superstition. But the author might have been inspired from the stories he heard during his holiday in Norway. He recounted the happy memories in "Boy: Tales of Childhood".

"Norwegians know all about witches, for Norway, with its black forest and icy mountains, is where the first witches came from."

Dahl's parents came from the southern part of Norway. He surely heard the stories about Vardø, a town located in the northeastern region. It was site of one the biggest witchcraft trials in Scandinavia. The Steilneset Memorial would be found there, which commemorated the trial and execution of 91 people for witchcraft in 1621. It began with a violent storm, which killed most of the menfolk. Mari Jørgensdatter was interrogated under torture. No one knew if a Christmas Party took place on the summit of Lyderhorn, where Jørgensdatter and several women made a Faustian pact.

The first few chapters of "The Witches" would recount one lass in a painting in her family's living room, and how her parents witnessed her passage into adulthood. Another tale narrated a family holiday that turned into a bittersweet moment, as the father saw his young boy transformed into a porpoise. But much of the story in "The Witches" was set in Great Britain.

Unpleasant sight

"I do not wish to speak badly about women. Most women are lovely. But the fact remains that all witches are women. There is no such thing as a male witch."

Not a few argued that "The Witches" had a sexist tone. Was Roald Dahl a misogynist? It could be an appalling thought, but some would point out that the author was thinking about the evil stepmother and the other female antagonists in fairy tales. Spiker and Sponge would come to mind, as they have been horribly vicious to their young nephew. In fact, "James and the Giant Peach" imparts a traditional theme. (Lonely child at the mercy of cruel adults.) Maybe folklore embellished this aspect of the book.

“The Witches” would fascinate and inspire readers. It could be a challenging material too. It took years before a publisher agreed to print this story, as well as Dahl's other works. The change of attitude had something to do with the passing of time.