James's aunts are blood relatives who treat him appallingly; the insects are entirely different beings who welcome and value him completely. Dahl argues strongly that family is about love and belonging, not biology.
James transforms over the course of the journey from a timid, mistreated child into a confident, capable leader. The adventure is a journey of self-discovery as much as a physical journey.
The peach, the insects, Cloud-Men and the transatlantic journey are all exercises in pure imagination. Dahl invites children to embrace the impossible and find it joyful rather than frightening.
Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge die crushed by the peach. The novel is clear: cruelty to children does not go unpunished. This is typical of Dahl’s moral framework.