Double Fudge

The most prominent symbol in Double Fudge is also Fudge’s favorite thing in the world: money. For Fudge, money symbolizes the freedom to buy anything he wants: a new toy or an entire city. For Peter, money represents comfort and friendship, and for Mr. and Mrs. Hatcher, money is simply a means of creating security. Money might be a tangible item that can be touched and held, but in Double Fudge, money represents many things, including power, luxury, and safety.

Fudge and his parents have very different opinions about what money symbolizes. When Fudge’s mother refuses to buy him two pairs of shoes, he throws a tantrum and declares that his mother doesn’t love him because “If [she] really loved [him] [she] would have bought [him] both pairs of shoes!” (16). Like many small children, Fudge associates gifts and presents with love, and he is starting to understand that money and presents are directly connected. However, Fudge has not yet understood that money is not an unlimited resource for adults. His mother tries to tell him that she “can’t buy everything [he] want[s]” (16), which is an awkward and painful conversation for any parent to have with their child. While Fudge understands that adults work jobs that pay them money, he does not understand why someone like his friend Rich can have everything he wants, but Fudge cannot.