Your Guide to Roald Dahl's "Parson's Pleasure"

Hello! Welcome to your study notes for "Parson's Pleasure". This short story by Roald Dahl is a fantastic, darkly funny tale about a con man and his big plans. It might seem simple on the surface, but it's packed with clever techniques and important themes that are perfect for your HKDSE exams.

In these notes, we'll break down everything you need to know, from the sneaky main character to the shocking twist ending. We'll explore the story's key themes like greed and deception and look at the literary tools Dahl uses to make the story so memorable. Don't worry if you find literature tricky – we'll go step-by-step and make it all clear. Let's get started!


First Things First: Who was Roald Dahl?

You probably know Roald Dahl from his famous children's books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Matilda. But he also wrote many brilliant short stories for adults, and they often share a few key ingredients:

  • • Twist Endings: Just when you think you know what's going to happen, he surprises you!
  • • Dark Humour: He finds comedy in dark or unpleasant situations.
  • • Greedy Characters: Dahl loved writing about people who were greedy, arrogant, or cruel, and he especially loved seeing them get what they deserve.

Keep these in mind as we read "Parson's Pleasure" – you'll see all three of these classic Dahl elements in action.


The Story in a Nutshell: Plot Summary

Let's walk through the story's main events. Breaking it down makes it much easier to remember and analyse.

Part 1: The Setup

We meet our main character, Mr. Cyril Boggis. He's an antiques dealer from London with a very clever, and very dishonest, business plan. On Sundays, he dresses up as a clergyman (a parson or vicar) and drives his car into the quiet countryside. He uses his disguise to get into old farmhouses, pretending to be the president of the "Society for the Preservation of Rare Furniture." His real goal? To find priceless antique furniture and buy it for a tiny fraction of its real value from unsuspecting farmers.

Part 2: The Discovery

One Sunday, Boggis stumbles upon a dirty, forgotten farmhouse belonging to three local men: Rummins, Bert, and Claud. Inside, he finds the ultimate treasure: an incredibly rare and valuable piece of furniture called a Chippendale Commode. It's one of only three ever made and is worth a fortune (about twenty thousand pounds!). Boggis has to hide his excitement. He pretends he's only interested in the legs of the commode to use for another table he owns. He offers them twenty pounds, a ridiculously low price.

Part 3: The "Brilliant" Plan and The Twist

The farmers agree to the sale. But there's a problem: the giant commode won't fit into Boggis's small car. Boggis has a "brilliant" idea. He tells the farmers that he only wants the legs, and they can keep the "worthless" top part. He suggests they saw the legs off for him to make them easier to transport. He goes to get his car, dreaming of his massive profit.

When he returns, he sees the farmers have followed his instructions... and then some. To be "helpful," they have not only sawn off the legs but have also smashed the main body of the priceless commode into pieces with an axe, thinking it was just firewood. Boggis's treasure is destroyed. He is so shocked he can't even speak and just drives away.

Key Takeaway

The plot is built around a con that backfires spectacularly. The story builds suspense as Boggis finds the treasure, and then delivers a shocking and ironic twist ending where the con man is outsmarted by the very people he tried to cheat.


Character Deep Dive

Mr. Cyril Boggis: The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Mr. Boggis is the heart of the story. Understanding him is key to understanding the story's message.

Appearance vs. Reality:
This is the most important thing about Boggis.

  • • His Appearance: He looks like a kind, respectable, and harmless parson. He wears the right clothes (a black suit and clerical collar) and speaks in a gentle, polite way.
  • • His Reality: He is a greedy, dishonest, and arrogant con man. He has no real religious role; it's all an act to trick people. He looks down on the farmers as simple and stupid.

Analogy: Think of an online scammer who creates a fake profile to trick people. That's exactly what Boggis is doing, but in person!

Greed and Arrogance:

  • • His motivation is pure greed. He isn't just trying to make a living; he wants to make a massive profit by cheating people.
  • • He is incredibly arrogant. He believes he is far more intelligent than the "simple country folk" he tricks. He calls them "peasants" and "ignoramuses" in his mind. This arrogance is his fatal flaw – it leads to his downfall.

Quick Review Box
Who is Mr. Boggis?
- Profession: Antiques Dealer
- Disguise: A Parson (clergyman)
- Personality: Deceptive, Greedy, Arrogant, Cunning
- Goal: To buy valuable antiques for cheap by tricking people.

The Farmers: Rummins, Bert, and Claud

These characters are not as developed as Boggis, but they are very important. They act as a foil to him (a character who contrasts with another character to highlight particular qualities).

  • • They are portrayed as simple, suspicious, and uneducated.
  • • They don't know the value of what they own, which makes them a perfect target for Boggis.
  • • However, their simple, literal-minded actions are what ultimately destroy Boggis's plan. They are not trying to be clever; they are just trying to be helpful based on what Boggis told them!
Key Takeaway

The story is a classic tale of a "trickster" (Boggis) versus the "fools" (the farmers). But in a twist, the trickster's own cleverness leads to his failure, and the "fools" win by accident.


Let's Talk Themes

Themes are the big ideas or messages in a story. "Parson's Pleasure" is rich with them!

1. Greed

This is the central theme. Greed is what drives Mr. Boggis. He isn't content with a fair profit; he wants to win big by taking advantage of others. The story acts as a cautionary tale, warning that excessive greed can lead to self-destruction. His desire for the commode is so overwhelming that it clouds his judgement, causing him to make the fatal mistake of suggesting they cut it up.

2. Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

Everything in this story is about deception.

  • • Boggis's Disguise: The entire plot relies on his fake identity as a parson. This disguise gives him access and makes him seem trustworthy.
  • • The Commode's Appearance: The priceless antique is covered in "a thick, black varnish," making it look ugly and worthless to an untrained eye. Its true value is hidden, just like Boggis's true nature.
  • • Boggis's Lies: He lies about who he is, why he's there, and why he wants the furniture.

Dahl shows us that things (and people) are often not what they seem. You can't always judge a book by its cover!

3. Irony and Poetic Justice

This is probably the most important literary concept in the story. Irony is when there's a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens.

Don't worry if this seems tricky! Let's break it down.

  • • Situational Irony: This is when the result of an action is the opposite of what was intended. The biggest example is the ending. Boggis's clever plan to get the commode easily by having the legs sawn off is the very thing that leads to its complete destruction. He thought he was being a genius, but his idea caused his failure.
  • • Dramatic Irony: This is when the audience knows something the characters don't. We, the readers, know from the beginning that Boggis is a fake. This creates suspense and humour as we watch the unsuspecting farmers interact with him.

The ending is a perfect example of poetic justice – a literary device where virtue is ultimately rewarded and vice is punished. Boggis, the cheat, gets cheated out of his prize in the most fitting way possible. He is punished not by the law, but by his own greed and cunning.

Key Takeaway

The main message of "Parson's Pleasure" is a warning against greed and deceit. Dahl uses irony and poetic justice to show that trying to cheat others can lead to you cheating yourself.


Dahl's Storytelling Toolkit: Literary Techniques

How does Dahl make the story so effective? He uses specific tools to create characters, mood, and suspense.

Characterisation

Dahl builds Boggis's character not just through his actions, but through his inner thoughts. We get to hear his greedy and arrogant thoughts about the farmers and the furniture. This use of third-person limited point of view (we only see inside Boggis's head) is crucial for creating dramatic irony.

Setting

The story is set in the peaceful, remote English countryside. This setting is important because:

  • • It makes Boggis's dishonest, fast-paced city attitude seem even more out of place.
  • • It creates a false sense of security, making the eventual twist more shocking.
  • • The isolation of the farms means the people are less likely to be aware of the tricks of a city dealer.

Suspense

Dahl is a master of suspense. The tension builds slowly as Boggis enters the farmhouse. When he sees the commode, his internal reaction ("He felt a genuine tremor go through his body") contrasts with his calm exterior. The whole negotiation is full of suspense – will the farmers agree? Will they realise its true value? This makes the final anti-climax even more powerful.


Ready for the Exam: Key Points & Connections

In your HKDSE exam (Paper 1, Section C), you'll often be asked to compare short stories. Here's how to think about "Parson's Pleasure" in a bigger context.

Possible Essay Questions to Think About:

1. "In 'Parson's Pleasure', Roald Dahl suggests that greed ultimately leads to self-destruction." Discuss.
2. Analyse the role of irony in delivering the story's central message.
3. Compare the theme of deception in "Parson's Pleasure" with how it is presented in another short story you have studied. (For example, you could compare Boggis's deceptions with the technology's deception in "The Veldt".)

Common Mistakes to Avoid:
  • • Just retelling the plot. Your essay needs analysis, not just summary. Use the plot points as evidence for your arguments about themes and characters.
  • • Forgetting Boggis is NOT a real parson. This is the central deception of the story. Always refer to it as his disguise.
  • • Thinking the farmers are clever. They are not! They outsmart Boggis by accident. The irony comes from their ignorance, not their intelligence.

You've got this! "Parson's Pleasure" is a story that's both entertaining and full of great material for literary analysis. By understanding the characters, themes, and techniques we've discussed, you'll be well-prepared to write about it with confidence. Good luck!