Witches Among Us

The story opens with a chilling assertion: real witches exist, and they are nothing like the fairy-tale variety. They look like ordinary women, live among us, and harbor a deep, burning hatred for children. Their greatest pleasure is to make children disappear, using cunning and magic rather than violence. The narrator, a young boy, warns that witches are everywhere, and their true danger lies in their ability to blend in, making them nearly impossible to identify. This sets the stage for a tale where the ordinary world is laced with hidden threats, and vigilance is a child's only defense.

Grandmother's Grim Tales

After the boy's parents die in a car accident, he is raised by his Norwegian grandmother, a cigar-smoking, fiercely loving woman who is an expert on witches. She recounts terrifying stories of children who vanished or were transformed by witches—one trapped in a painting, another turned into a chicken, a boy into stone, and another into a porpoise. These tales, told with grave seriousness, blur the line between myth and reality, instilling in the boy a deep fear and respect for the hidden dangers lurking in the world.

Orphaned and Warned

The boy's life is upended by tragedy, but his grandmother's promise to care for him provides comfort. She insists they stay together, and her knowledge of witches becomes a shield and a guide. The boy's trust in her grows, and their bond deepens as she prepares him for a world where evil can wear a friendly face. The grandmother's own missing thumb hints at a personal encounter with witches, adding weight to her warnings and stories.

How to Spot Evil

The grandmother teaches the boy how to recognize witches: they always wear gloves to hide clawed fingers, wigs to cover bald heads, and uncomfortable shoes to disguise toeless feet. Their nostrils are large for sniffing out children, whose scent is repulsive to them. Their eyes have a strange, shifting color, and their spit is blue. These clues, while subtle, are the only defense children have. The lesson is clear: evil is often hidden, and survival depends on keen observation and caution.

The Woman in the Garden

While building a treehouse, the boy is approached by a strange woman offering a snake as a gift. Her gloves and odd smile trigger his alarm, and he flees to safety. His grandmother confirms his suspicion: he has met a witch. From then on, the boy becomes hyper-vigilant, avoiding any woman who fits the witch profile. The threat is no longer abstract; it is real and personal.

Summer Plans Derailed

The boy and his grandmother plan a summer trip to Norway, but her bout with pneumonia forces them to stay in England. They book a stay at the Hotel Magnificent in Bournemouth instead. The boy receives two pet mice, William and Mary, which become his companions and a source of joy. The change in plans, however, sets the stage for the story's central confrontation.

The Hotel Magnificent

At the hotel, the boy's mice cause trouble with the staff, but he finds a secret place to train them: the grand ballroom. Unbeknownst to him, the hotel is about to host a gathering of witches, disguised as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The ordinary setting becomes a battleground between innocence and evil, with the boy unwittingly at the center.

Behind the Ballroom Screen

Hiding behind a screen, the boy witnesses the witches' annual meeting. He observes their strange habits—scratching at wigs, wearing gloves—and realizes with horror that he is surrounded by hundreds of witches. The doors are locked, and escape seems impossible. The tension mounts as the witches prepare to reveal their true selves.

The Grand High Witch Revealed

The Grand High Witch, a tiny but terrifying figure, removes her mask to reveal a hideous, rotting face. She berates the other witches for their laziness and unveils her plan: every witch in England must buy a sweet shop, lure children with free treats, and use a new potion—Formula 86 Delayed Action Mouse-Maker—to turn them all into mice, to be exterminated by unsuspecting adults. The witches' glee is matched only by the boy's terror as he realizes the scale of the threat.

The Mouse-Maker Plot

The Grand High Witch demonstrates the potion's power by turning a greedy boy, Bruno Jenkins, into a mouse. She distributes bottles of the formula to the oldest witches and sets a timetable for the mass transformation. The boy, still hidden, is discovered by the witches, who force-feed him a massive dose of the potion. He is instantly transformed into a mouse, but retains his human mind and voice.

Bruno's Transformation

As a mouse, the boy finds Bruno, also transformed. The two mice, still able to speak and think as boys, navigate the dangers of the hotel together. They seek out the grandmother, who, after an initial shock, accepts her grandson's new form with love and determination. The trio quickly devises a plan to stop the witches' plot.

Caught and Changed

The boy-mouse adapts to his new body, discovering both limitations and advantages. He and Bruno are nearly caught by hotel staff, but manage to reach the grandmother. The transformation, while traumatic, becomes a source of empowerment as the boy realizes he can now go places and do things no human child could.

Mouse's Escape

The boy-mouse bravely infiltrates the Grand High Witch's room, evading her and her minions, and steals a bottle of Formula 86. He narrowly escapes, using his new agility and size to outwit the witches and return to his grandmother. The stage is set for a counterattack.

Grandmamma's Comfort

The grandmother reassures the boy that, mouse or not, he is still her beloved grandson. She invents clever gadgets to help him live comfortably, and together they plan their next move. The boy's acceptance of his new form, and his grandmother's unwavering support, highlight the story's central message: love transcends appearances.

The Daring Kitchen Mission

The boy-mouse sneaks into the hotel kitchen, dodging cooks and waiters, and pours the stolen potion into the witches' soup. He narrowly escapes with a wounded tail, but the mission is a success. The plan is simple but effective: turn the witches' own weapon against them.

The Witches' Downfall

As the witches eat their soup, they begin to transform into mice. Panic erupts in the dining room as guests and staff attack the swarming rodents. The Grand High Witch and her followers are destroyed, their evil plans undone by the very magic they intended to use on children. The boy, his grandmother, and Bruno slip away in the chaos.

A New Life Begins

Back in Norway, the boy and his grandmother adjust to their new life. She invents tools to help him, and they find joy in each other's company. The boy learns that, as a mouse-person, he will live only as long as his grandmother—an outcome he welcomes, as he cannot imagine life without her. Their bond is stronger than ever.

The World's Next Adventure

The grandmother reveals that the Grand High Witch's headquarters—and the records of all the world's witches—are in Norway. Together, they plot to use Formula 86 to destroy witches everywhere, traveling the world as a grandmother-mouse team. The story ends with hope and excitement for future adventures, as love, courage, and cleverness triumph over evil.

Characters

The Boy (Narrator)

The unnamed protagonist is a resourceful and intelligent boy whose life is shaped by loss and danger. Orphaned young, he finds strength in his grandmother's love and wisdom. His curiosity and courage drive the story, as he faces witches, adapts to life as a mouse, and ultimately becomes a hero. His transformation into a mouse is both a loss and a liberation, allowing him to embrace a new identity and purpose. His psychological resilience and acceptance of change are central to the book's message.

Grandmother

The boy's grandmother is a formidable figure—Norwegian, cigar-smoking, and an expert on witches. She is both protector and mentor, blending warmth with steely resolve. Her own traumatic encounter with witches (evidenced by her missing thumb) gives her authority and depth. She is inventive, nurturing, and unafraid to challenge evil, embodying the power of love and knowledge. Her relationship with her grandson is the emotional core of the story.

The Grand High Witch

The Grand High Witch is the embodiment of evil—brilliant, ruthless, and terrifying. She commands absolute loyalty and fear from other witches, and her plans are both ingenious and horrifying. Her physical appearance—youthful mask hiding a decaying face—symbolizes the deceptive nature of evil. She is a master manipulator, but her arrogance and cruelty ultimately lead to her downfall.

Bruno Jenkins

Bruno is a wealthy, gluttonous boy whose transformation into a mouse is both punishment and comic relief. Unlike the narrator, Bruno is slow to grasp his new reality and remains focused on food and comfort. His relationship with his parents, especially his mother's horror at his new form, adds a layer of dark humor. Bruno's character highlights the story's themes of transformation and acceptance.

Witches (Collective)

The witches are a secret society of child-haters, blending into society while plotting harm. They are defined by their disguises and their shared mission, but also by their fear of the Grand High Witch. Their collective psychology is one of conformity, cruelty, and cowardice, making them both dangerous and ultimately vulnerable to disruption from within.

Mr. Jenkins

Bruno's father is a caricature of adult authority—loud, dismissive, and slow to understand the supernatural events unfolding around him. His inability to accept his son's transformation, and his comic attempts to confront the witches, serve as a satirical commentary on adult blindness and denial.

Mrs. Jenkins

Bruno's mother is terrified of mice and unable to cope with her son's new form. Her reaction underscores the theme of parental inadequacy and the limits of adult understanding in a world where children face hidden dangers.

Hotel Staff (Mr. Stringer, William, Chambermaid)

The hotel staff are minor but memorable characters, representing the adult world's obliviousness to the supernatural. Their interactions with the boy and his mice add humor and tension, and their reactions to the witches' transformation provide a backdrop for the story's climax.

The Frogs

The frogs in the Grand High Witch's room are former children, transformed and trapped. They serve as a haunting reminder of the witches' cruelty and the stakes of the battle.

The Ancient Witches

The oldest witches, too frail for active duty, are given special supplies of the Mouse-Maker. Their eagerness to serve, despite their age, highlights the cult-like devotion and hierarchy within the witch community.

Plot Devices

Hidden Evil in Plain Sight

The story's central device is the idea that evil can hide in the most mundane places—next door, in a hotel, or behind a friendly face. This creates a pervasive sense of paranoia and suspense, as the protagonist must learn to see beyond appearances.

Transformation and Identity

The use of magical transformation—children into mice, girls into chickens, boys into stone—serves as both a literal threat and a metaphor for the loss of innocence, the unpredictability of life, and the resilience required to adapt. The protagonist's acceptance of his new form is a powerful statement about self-acceptance and the enduring nature of identity.

Child's Perspective and Agency

The narrative is filtered through the eyes of a child, whose vulnerability is matched by resourcefulness and courage. The boy's ability to outwit the witches, even as a mouse, subverts traditional power dynamics and celebrates the ingenuity of children.

Foreshadowing and Suspense

The grandmother's stories, the clues about witches' appearance, and the gradual revelation of the witches' plan all serve to build suspense. The reader is constantly aware of danger lurking just out of sight, heightening the impact of each twist.

Satire of Adult Authority

The adults in the story—parents, hotel staff, even the police—are largely ineffective or unaware of the real dangers. This satirical portrayal underscores the isolation of children and the necessity of self-reliance.

Dark Humor and Irony

The book balances its dark themes with humor—Bruno's gluttony, the grandmother's bluntness, the chaos in the hotel—creating a tone that is both unsettling and entertaining. The irony of witches being destroyed by their own magic is a fitting conclusion.

Analysis

Roald Dahl's The Witches is a masterful blend of dark fantasy, satire, and psychological insight, exploring the hidden dangers that children face in a world where evil often wears a friendly face. Through the lens of a child's perspective, the story confronts themes of loss, resilience, and transformation, challenging readers to question appearances and trust their instincts. The grandmother's wisdom and unconditional love provide a counterbalance to the pervasive threat, illustrating the power of intergenerational bonds. The book's enduring appeal lies in its ability to empower children—celebrating their courage, intelligence, and adaptability—while also critiquing adult complacency and denial. Ultimately, The Witches is a story about embracing change, finding strength in adversity, and the enduring triumph of love and cleverness over cruelty and fear.

Last updated: May 25, 2025