Danny, the Champion of the World

For the first nine years of his life, Danny has never experienced true fear, and he has never questioned the honesty of his father, whom he adores. When Danny wakes to find his father missing, he feels panic for the first time, assuming the worst because in his mind his father would never have “willingly “left him alone. The realization that his father not only keeps secrets but also steals is a jolt to Danny: “My own father a thief! This gentle, lovely man! I couldn’t believe he would go creeping into the woods at night to pinch valuable birds belonging to someone else” (29). Danny, quite rightly, interprets poaching as “stealing,” but William quickly corrects him, saying, “We don’t look at it that way” (29). This counter perspective introduces the British class system and the theme of greed: William justifies poaching to Danny by romanticizing it as an artform passed down through generations of good, hardworking people who poach out of necessity from “wealthy idiots,” a Robin Hood ideal used to justify a crime. Danny points out that they are not starving and therefore do not need to steal pheasants, challenging his father’s justification. Danny’s concerns lessen with William’s honest admission that he enjoys the “sport” of poaching and “can’t give it up” (30); honesty is important to Danny, and he understands the concept of doing something because it is fun.

William knows that poaching is a crime, but he also knows that this crime is so entrenched in British society that it has become a game, played with mutual disdain and animosity between society’s working and upper classes. Danny forgives William and, along with the reader, gets swept up in the skill, excitement, and art of poaching, marveling at the ingenious methods poachers use. William, through his entertaining and touching stories about his youthful poaching escapades (including ones with Danny’s mother) win everyone over, solidifying William as the “good guy” and Mr. Hazell as the “bad guy,” even though William is the one committing a crime. The way Dahl describes the antagonist Mr. Hazell— “roaring snob” (42), “glistening beery face […] pink as ham” (43)—coupled with Mr. Hazell’s relentless retaliation against William secures Mr. Hazell’s role as the loathsome adversary, leaving no doubt that he deserves what is coming to him, even though Mr. Hazell has committed no crime other than being very rich and obnoxious. The Gray Area Between Right and Wrong, which forms when emotions and facts become entangled, is a complicated theme running throughout the narrative. This is further supported because the poverty William experienced when he was younger made poaching a necessity, and considering the crime in this context makes it less of an offense and more of a desperate act worthy of compassion and empathy.

The deep love Danny and William have for each other is highlighted in this section by William’s genuine apology—“When your mother died […] I made a vow to give up poaching until you were old enough to be left alone at night. But this evening I broke my vow […] I just couldn’t stop myself. I’m very sorry I did it” (40)—and by Danny’s quick forgiveness.