Both people and giants in this book would be terrifying to know in real life. The man-eating giants for obvious reasons. Then there’s the matron of Sophie’s orphanage, who punishes the girls by locking them in a cellar with no food. Not to mention the humans that the BFG worries about, who would put him in a zoo (he thinks) if they caught him.
Sophie and the BFG are up against almost impossible odds, which would make us root for them even if they weren’t amazing. Who doesn’t love an underdog? The odds are against them physically, too: the BFG is small compared to other giants, and Sophie is literally small. It seems almost impossible for them to overcome problems that are so big. Which makes it even more amazing when they do.
Questions About Injustice
- Why do you think Roald Dahl doesn’t spend much time on Sophie’s backstory?
- If the BFG hadn’t kidnapped Sophie, do you think she would tell people she saw a giant? What do you think their reaction would be?
- Why do you think the author chose to make the other giants pick on the BFG?
- Do you agree with the BFG’s initial opinion of human beings?
Chew on This
The other giants get their just desserts when they are punished by being put in a hole and forced to eat snozzcumbers (a just, if disgusting, dessert indeed).
Roald Dahl made Sophie an orphan to emphasize her powerlessness and to further tie her to the BFG.