The Twits

Everything we do results in an outcome based on the action we’ve taken. The characters of The Twits, both human and animal, act in accordance with their personalities, and these actions bring about consequences, both positive and negative. Through the tricks the Twits play on each other, the revenge the animals take, and the overall arc of negative actions, The Twits explores how what we do matters.

Negative actions often have negative consequences. Throughout the first half of the book, the Twits play trick after trick on each other, some more harmful than others. The couple has been tormenting each other for so long that cruelty has become second nature. Each of these terrible acts comes with a consequence, often in the form of the next trick. In particular, the sequence about the shrinks exemplifies how negative actions bring about negative consequences. Mr. Twit begins this series of tricks by adding height to Mrs. Twit’s walking stick and chair. He convinces her she’s shrinking, so she allows him to stretch her between the iron ring and the balloons. When he cuts her loose, he believes he is finally rid of her, only for her to come back and mercilessly whack him with her cane.