Don’t be Greedy
The title character truly is enormous. As a result, he could very easily beat out the crocs in the muddiest river in Africa for the fish and food that has, in a sense, come to him. Instead, he has gotten greedy and wants more and so he is moved to leave the place where food is plentiful and easy to get to where it is less plentiful and not so easy, but comes in larger portions and is juicier. The result of not being satisfied with what he’s got and seeking out what is more difficult simply to satisfy his greed eventually gets him blast into a star where he evaporates into nothingness.
Don’t Be Stupid
Although it may not be at thematic lesson that Roald Dahl necessarily intended, the average kid is more than smart enough to pick up on a lesson that the crocodile should have learned but did not. And because he failed to learn that lesson, he pays the ultimate consequence. On his way through the jungle, the big greedy crocodile stupidly informs an elephant, hippo, monkey and bird of his plans to go to town and trick children into his mouth. Each of the animals in turn play a role in thwarting each of his ideas. While the narrative purposely pursues the theme of collaboration and teamwork among the strong and the weak to defend the weak from the wicked, there is no question that underlying that intended lesson is the not-so-intentional theme that if you want to trick people don’t be stupid enough to tell anyone your plans.
A Dangerous Place for Kids
The crocodile specifically targets children for his meal. That is why he treks through the jungle and seeks out the town and leaves behind a sure thing to take a chance on something preferable. He tries to disguise himself a tree where kids come to pick up fallen coconuts, as a wooden creature that kid ride on a carousel, as a bench at a picnic table in the park and as a seesaw in a playground. Each time his disguise is divulged through the assistance of one of the animals he unwisely informed of his plans. Each thwarting results in the saving of many children’s lives. The very dark and disturbing theme here is not just that the world is a very dangerous place for kids, but that the very places where kids should be able to feel most comfortable and protected are potentially the most dangerous of all.
