Main characters can include outcasts. People who don't fit into normal society. They might be the ones to encounter the horror first. Also, there are the victims. These are the characters who are at the mercy of the horror elements in the story. And sometimes there are tricksters. Characters who seem friendly but are actually leading others into horror.
In 'James and the Giant Peach', James is the main character. He is a young boy who has to deal with a difficult situation at home and then embarks on an adventure inside the giant peach with his new friends like the Centipede, the Earthworm and the Ladybird.
In 'The Landlady', the main characters are the young man, Billy Weaver, and the landlady herself. The landlady is a very mysterious and ultimately quite terrifying character.
There's the Landlady. She seems friendly at first but has a very sinister side. Another is the Great Automatic Grammatizator's creator. His greed and ambition make him a memorable and somewhat terrifying character. And then there's the man in 'Lamb to the Slaughter' who is the victim of his wife's rather unexpected act of violence.
There's James in 'James and the Giant Peach'. He's a young boy who has a big adventure on a giant peach with his insect friends. And in 'The Fantastic Mr. Fox', Mr. Fox is the main character. He's clever and always manages to outwit the farmers who are trying to catch him. Also, in 'The Landlady', the landlady herself is a very important character with some rather strange behavior.
In 'James and the Giant Peach', James is a main character. He has an extraordinary adventure inside a giant peach with his insect friends.
There are many different main characters. Sometimes it's a clever child like Charlie in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'. Charlie is a kind - hearted and curious boy who gets to experience the wonders of the chocolate factory.
One common theme is the unexpected. Dahl often throws in twists that the reader doesn't see coming. For example, in some stories, characters who seem ordinary turn out to have a dark side. Another theme is the blurring of reality and the supernatural. There are elements that make you question what is real and what is not. Also, there is often a sense of isolation, where the characters are alone in their terrifying situations, heightening the horror.
One common theme is the unexpected and the uncanny. Dahl often takes ordinary situations and twists them into something terrifying. For example, in some stories, normal human relationships turn into nightmarish power struggles. Another theme is the dark side of human nature. His characters might show greed, envy, or cruelty in extreme ways. Also, there is often a sense of mystery that keeps the reader on edge throughout the story.
Main characters in Dahl's dark short stories can be a diverse bunch. There are the innocent bystanders, usually normal people who get caught up in the strange events. Then there are the devious characters, who are always plotting something. And don't forget about the underdogs, those characters who seem weak at first but might surprise you in the end. All these types of characters interact in the unique and often spooky worlds that Dahl creates.
I think 'Lamb to the Slaughter' is very popular. It has been widely read and studied due to its clever plot and unexpected twists. The main character's actions are both shocking and yet somehow understandable in the context of the story.