Clothing

Pay attention to the clothes in this book. They aren’t just for decoration.

Clothes in The BFG tell you something about each character, usually about their status or class. Take the giants, for example. All of them, except our Big Friendly Giant, wear nothing except for “sort of a short skirt around their waists” (6.21). Their outfits are sort of caveman-ish, and that reflects their lives and attitudes, which are…well, primitive.

Compare that with the BFG’s outfit. Funny as it is, at least the BFG wears pants. He even managed to make himself sandals. Plus, he has a travelling cloak, which comes in handy when he presents himself to the Queen:

“Twenty-four feet tall, wearing his black cloak with the grace of a nobleman, still carrying his long trumpet in one hand, he strode magnificently across the Palace lawn towards the window.” (19.126)

Notice that word, nobleman? Not a word you’d use to describe the rest of the giants. Similar to the other giants, the BFG’s outfit reflects his spirit.

But what about Sophie? She’s got a wonderful spirit, but she’s stuck in her nightie for most of the book, since she was taken in the middle of the night. So for her, it’s important to pay attention to the moment when she finally gets to change—into a princess dress, no less. (Head over to the “Appearances” theme for more on this.)

Don’t worry—we aren’t going to forget the sapphire brooch. The Queen gives Sophie the brooch to wear, and she uses it to puncture the Fleshlumpeater’s foot in a very desperate moment. Not only does she have some nice jewelry to go with her change in status; she also changes the fate of everyone in Giant Country. It’s at the end of the book, and Sophie, smart as ever, has also become resourceful and unafraid.

Clothes that also function as weapons: that’s our kind of symbol.