--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think. as a child, there's something…" description: "\"I think. as a child, there's something frightening about certain adults, particularly when you're in their clutches or power. That must be the reason w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caa/bertie-carvel-29818_about_i-think-as-a-child-there-s-something-fri_88786.jpg" --- # I think. as a child, there's something frightening about… ![“I think. as a child, there's something frightening about certain adults, particularly when you're in their clutches or power. That must be the reason why Roald Dahl creates such brilliant characters: He taps into something in the collective memory of people.” quote by Bertie Carvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caa/bertie-carvel-29818_about_i-think-as-a-child-there-s-something-fri_88786.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caa/bertie-carvel-29818_about_i-think-as-a-child-there-s-something-fri_88786.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caa/bertie-carvel-29818_about_i-think-as-a-child-there-s-something-fri_88786.jpg) > “I think. as a child, there's something frightening about certain adults, particularly when you're in their clutches or power. That must be the reason why Roald Dahl creates such brilliant characters: He taps into something in the collective memory of people.” [Bertie Carvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertie-carvel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote observes that childhood fear of powerful adults fuels Roald Dahl's compelling characters, tapping into a shared psychological memory. **In simple terms:** Childhood fear shapes storytelling Key Takeaway Fearful authority inspires memorable villains Themes psychology literature memory authority childhood Mood reflective intrigued Type observation analysis When to use this quote - analyzing children's literature - discussing author motivations - exploring fear in media Key Concepts collective memory character archetype power dynamics Practical Applications - writing character analysis - teaching narrative techniques Questions to Reflect On - How does fear influence character creation? - What shared memories do authors draw from? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Frightening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightening/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [A writer's main tool is his memory - his own memory, the collective memory of his people. 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I read the 'BFG' on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lampard/i-loved-reading-roald-dahl-when-i-was-young-but-i-had-forgotten-a-lot/) [Frank Lampard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lampard/) > [If the day gets really bad, I can always pull out fan mail. Who else gets mail where kids write to you and say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-scieszka/if-the-day-gets-really-bad-i-can-always-pull-out-fan-mail-who-else/) [Jon Scieszka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-scieszka/) > [I've always been interested in a certain kind of sophistication in children's literature. I loved Roald Dahl; I loved the underlying nastiness of some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-small/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-a-certain-kind-of-sophistication-in/) [David Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-small/) > [Any conversation including the mention of Roald Dahl, Ray Bradbury, or Emily Dickinson is one worth getting into or at least eavesdropping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-roff/any-conversation-including-the-mention-of-roald-dahl-ray-bradbury-or/) [Don Roff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-roff/) > [I love Roald Dahl, Sharon Olds, Nizar Qabbani, who is a poet, and Junot Diaz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupi-kaur/i-love-roald-dahl-sharon-olds-nizar-qabbani-who-is-a-poet-and-junot/) [Rupi Kaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupi-kaur/) > [My earliest, most impactful encounter with a book was when I was seven and awoke early on Christmas morning to find Roald Dahl's 'Charlie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/my-earliest-most-impactful-encounter-with-a-book-was-when-i-was-seven/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [I was very excited to do 'The Witches.' 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