DOI: 10.47743/jss-2025-71-4-11

Faculty of Law, "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iași./Faculty of Law, "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iași.

Abstract: Childhood is the most important stage in human life, as it requires the formation of personality, skills and general knowledge. At the same time, in legislative terms, the child occupies a central position, so much that we can even talk about a pedocentrism of law. From a simple receiver of family assets, the child has evolved to the status of a fundamental rights subject, this transition being marked by the introduction of the key concept entitled the best interests of the child. Likewise, in the plan of filial relations, due to the orientation towards the needs of the child, it has been introduced the concept of parental responsibility. Therefore, when parents endanger the life, health or development of the child through abusive behaviour, serious negligence or violation of the best interests, tough measures established by the legislator will be imposed. In this context, Matilda is a novel addressed to children in which are discussed the value of family, the importance of parental attachment to children and the repercussions of abuse and neglect. Anyone familiar with Roald Dahl's works knows that, through his writings, the author offers the reader an utopia in which children are in charge, and adults are evil, selfish and ignorant, often with unflattering physical appearances. That is why the writer deliberately gives to the children more power in his stories than they might have. Unfortunately, most children who are bullied and abused by their families never get to defend themselves. Often, they are forced to endure the torment, until they are old enough to walk away, and even then, they find it difficult to escape. In this paper, we will explore how the author Roald Dahl uses humour to mask difficult topics such as child abuse and domestic violence. In this regard, we will ask whether the humour can reduce the severity of the abuse that Matilda is exposed to throughout her childhood.

Keywords: abuse, neglect, child, family, humour, parental responsibility.

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