Deception

Dahl explores the theme of deception through symbolism, dialogue, and the narration, in order to build suspense and make the reader question reality in the story. Moreover, the exploration of the theme of deception allows Dahl to develop the characters in this story, and it adds nuance to the relationship between the pilot and the nurse.

The first instance of Dahl exploring the theme of deception arises at the beginning of the story, while the pilot is still flying, in order to develop the pilot’s character. When he is above the English Channel, the pilot thinks about his dismembered leg, and he runs through hypothetical scenarios in his mind on pages 300 and 301. He imagines his friends approaching him after he sits in the pilot seat “quite normally” (300), until his friends notice his stump and recoil in shock. In this example, Dahl uses the pilot’s...