The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me

The Duke of Hampshire, an elderly gentleman with an enormous mustache, is the richest man in England. His mansion needs its windows cleaned, and when he meets the three animals who’ll do the job, he’s flabbergasted but quickly adapts to them. A short-tempered man, he initially wants to shoot the Pelican for “stealing” his cherries until he realizes the bird simply wanted to harvest them for him. Later, the Duke is eager to impale a burglar with his walking-stick sword. He and his wife, the Duchess, are humorous figures prone to comical outbursts. However, when the animals help capture the burglar, the Duke shows his gracious side and invites them to live with him.

The Duke’s quick acceptance of, and respect for, the three animals speak to his ability to recognize talent, despite those of his social status sometimes looking down on others. His willingness to fund Billy’s candy shop humanizes him, making him the kindly caretaker archetype of many of Dahl’s works.

The Giraffe is the leader of the three window-washing animals. She quickly recognizes Billy as a friend and an asset to their company. A gentle soul with a sharp mind, the Giraffe can stretch her neck to almost any height for cleaning windows, and she alerts the Duke to a thief in his house; she also helps guide the Duke’s decisions when the Pelican captures the burglar. Her common sense and wisdom see to her dream of eating the flowers of the tinkle-tinkle tree, from one of the Duke’s groves.

The Pelican—“Pelly” to the Monkey—has a beak with a large pouch and a retractable upper bill that enables him to hold water for cleaning windows. It also helps him transport Billy, and together, they harvest fruit from the tops of the Duke’s cherry trees. The Pelican bravely captures the thief in the Duke’s house by trapping and disorienting him in his mouth. He dreams of eating salmon, and a grateful Duke directs the bird to a river filled with the fish.

The Monkey, though skinny, can climb almost anything; he crawls up the Giraffe’s neck to wash windows. Like the other animals, he loves to sing, especially about their good work as window cleaners. He also has a soft spot for walnuts, and his part in capturing the burglar is rewarded with all the nuts he can eat. The Monkey does the group’s actual washing and continually promotes them—ending the novel by imploring both Billy and readers to pay a visit.