Common Sense In Roald Dahl's 'The Landlady'

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Roald Dahl’s short story “The landlady” takes place in the two cities of London and Bath, England. Billy Weaver the main character is on a business trip and he needs to find a place to sleep that is close and cheap. He finds the landlady who offerers him to stay at her bed and breakfast for half of what he had been willing to pay. Dahl’s writes “ It was fantastically cheap. It was less than half of what he had been willing to pay. If that is too much she added then perhaps I can reduce it a tiny bit.” Unfortunately, he had made the decision unknowing and is now in a sticky situation. By the use of dialogue and conflict, Roald Dahl creates the lesson that common sense is key and can be the difference in a critical situation.

Billy Weaver did not make sound decisions in the beginning of the story and it is coming back to haunt him. As said by Billy himself, the bed and breakfast , “ It was fantastically cheap. It was less than half of what he had been willing to pay.” At this point he should have known it sounded a little fishy, and kindly rejected her offer. Therefore, this is why his lack of experience traveling, let alone by himself was the main reason why he made the rash decision to stay there. Then, as the story goes on Billy decides to adventure throughout the house and he finds outs something rather strange. There had been 2 other guests checked in with him, Mr. Mulholland and Mr. Temple. Yet, for …show more content…

But looking more closely, the message developes more into the theme that trust is earned not given. In Roald Dahl’s short story “The landlady” Billy Weaver finds the landlady who offerers him to stay at her bed and breakfast for half of what he had been willing to pay. This sentence right there tells it all it. If he had not trusted the vague lady he would not be in the situation he is currently in. Trust was the difference maker for

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