The visitor : Roald Dahl on phobic anxiety of infections and delusion of hygiene

Abstract

In his both highly amusing and thrilling story Roald Dahl describes an adventure of his fictive uncle Oswald Hendryk Cornelius, asnobby Englishman and womanizer, suffering from delusional anxiety of infections and hygienic compulsions. Forced by the breakdown of his car in the Sinai desert, he accepts the invitation of anoble Arab to spend the night in his palace, situated like amirage in the middle of the desert. Oswald is plagued by erotic obsessions at the sight of the beautiful wife as well as the likewise beautiful daughter. The night rewards him with the desired amorous adventure but without knowing with whom he had spent the night. Oswald's satisfaction changes to pure horror when, the next morning, the owner of the house reveals that the visitor during the night was neither his wife nor daughter.