Previous
Roald
Roald’s mother, Sofie Dahl, is the second wife of Roald’s father. Born and raised in Norway, Sofie is considered a “foreigner” by most members of British society. After Roald’s father dies, Roald’s mother honors his wish for his children to attend English schools, which necessitates that the family remain in Britain even though Sofie has few connections and little support outside Norway. When Mr. Coombes canes Roald for hiding a dead mouse in one of Mrs. Pratchett’s candy jars, Roald’s mother immediately confronts the Headmaster and scolds him for beating such a young boy. When she returns and calmly relates the incident to Roald, she admits that Mr. Coombes told her that she simply didn’t understand the way British schools were run. This prompts her to transfer Roald to St. Peter’s School the following year. In general, Roald and his mother have a loving relationship. However, Roald’s mother takes the advice of people such as Dr. Dunbar and the Repton Headmaster to send Roald to boarding school and leave just after dropping him off, demonstrating that she’s capable of a more “tough love” approach, too. In his narration, Roald seems touched by the recollection of his mother’s love and sacrifices for him. When he tells her that he plans to travel to Africa with the Shell company, for instance, Roald’s mother’s reaction is entirely supportive, despite the inner turmoil she must have been feeling.
Roald’s Mother Quotes in Boy
The Boy quotes below are all either spoken by Roald’s Mother or refer to Roald’s Mother. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
2. Kindergarten, 1922-23
Quotes
[Mama’s] husband had always stated most emphatically that he wished all his children to be educated in English schools. They were the best in the world, he used to say. Better by far than the Norwegian ones. Better even than the Welsh ones, despite the fact that he lived in Wales and had his business there. He maintained that there was some kind of magic about English schooling and that the education it provided had caused the inhabitants of a small island to become a great nation and a great Empire and to produce the world’s greatest literature.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
6. Mrs Pratchett’s Revenge
Quotes
About an hour later, my mother returned and came upstairs to kiss us all goodnight.
‘I wish you hadn’t done that,’ I said to her. ‘It makes me look silly.’
‘They don’t beat small children like that where I come from,’ she said. ‘I won’t allow it.’
‘What did Mr. Coombes say to you, Mama?’
‘He told me that I was a foreigner and I didn’t understand how British schools were run,’ she said.
‘Did he get ratty with you?’
‘Very ratty,’ she said. ‘He told me that if I didn’t like his methods I could take you away.’
‘What did you say?’
‘I said I would, as soon as the school year is finished. I shall find you an English school this time,’ she said. ‘Your father was right. English schools are the best in the world.’
7. Going to Norway
Quotes
All my summer holidays, from when I was four years old to when I was seventeen (1920-1932), were totally idyllic. This, I am certain, is because we always went to the same idyllic place and that place was Norway.
Except for my ancient half-sister and my not-quite-so-ancient half-brother, the rest of us were all pure Norwegian by blood. We all spoke Norwegian and all our relations lived over there. So in a way, going to Norway every summer was like going home.
Get the entire Boy LitChart as a printable PDF.
Roald’s Mother Quotes in Boy
The Boy quotes below are all either spoken by Roald’s Mother or refer to Roald’s Mother. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
2. Kindergarten, 1922-23
Quotes
[Mama’s] husband had always stated most emphatically that he wished all his children to be educated in English schools. They were the best in the world, he used to say. Better by far than the Norwegian ones. Better even than the Welsh ones, despite the fact that he lived in Wales and had his business there. He maintained that there was some kind of magic about English schooling and that the education it provided had caused the inhabitants of a small island to become a great nation and a great Empire and to produce the world’s greatest literature.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
6. Mrs Pratchett’s Revenge
Quotes
About an hour later, my mother returned and came upstairs to kiss us all goodnight.
‘I wish you hadn’t done that,’ I said to her. ‘It makes me look silly.’
‘They don’t beat small children like that where I come from,’ she said. ‘I won’t allow it.’
‘What did Mr. Coombes say to you, Mama?’
‘He told me that I was a foreigner and I didn’t understand how British schools were run,’ she said.
‘Did he get ratty with you?’
‘Very ratty,’ she said. ‘He told me that if I didn’t like his methods I could take you away.’
‘What did you say?’
‘I said I would, as soon as the school year is finished. I shall find you an English school this time,’ she said. ‘Your father was right. English schools are the best in the world.’
7. Going to Norway
Quotes
All my summer holidays, from when I was four years old to when I was seventeen (1920-1932), were totally idyllic. This, I am certain, is because we always went to the same idyllic place and that place was Norway.
Except for my ancient half-sister and my not-quite-so-ancient half-brother, the rest of us were all pure Norwegian by blood. We all spoke Norwegian and all our relations lived over there. So in a way, going to Norway every summer was like going home.
