A Salute to D.W. of ‘Arthur’: Little Sister, Major Icon

Let us now sing praises Arthur character D.W.: dreamer, schemer, Roastmaster General in a four-year-old aardvark’s body. The classic PBS kids show returns after 25 years ArthurThis week, the final episode aired. The series’ final episode aired this week. Dora Winifred Read, the little sister, was a hilarious, smart, and unlikable role model for little girls. 

Our illiterate queen! Lover of unicorns, hater of spinach; a true innovator in a world that is dominated by basics. D.W. wore e-girl short bangs long before egirls were invented. She was humble, sweet-talked by her parents, and knew her right. ArthurMarc Brown was raised with three sisters and Marc Brown said that D.W. was based on all three of them. This comes across—among D.W.’s many charms, she gives off Main Character Energy while literally not being the main character. In the early days Arthur era, ’90s girls were used to stories in which women played smart, complex supporting characters—Hermione, Amidala, Helga, Lisa Simpson. As an ArthurD.W. was a variation on this proud tradition. First, she refused to accept a role of the sidekick. A second problem was her inexplicable annoying behavior. 

That famous meme of Arthur’s balled-up fist? He is about to punch D.W., a distant cousin of JunieB. Jones and PippieLongstocking. D.W. is not passive, quiet, accommodating, polite, or accommodating. She is a loser and a frequent liar. She is a talker and demands attention. She It is not a nice little girl—it is more accurate to say that she has the skills to rile up a mob into violence. There has been meaningful pushback in the past few years against labeling smart little girls as “bossy.” This is an important cultural change, but D.W. really is bossy. “When D.W. really, really wants something, there’s no telling What she’ll do to get it,” Arthur says, mournfully. She has the combined energy of a maiden aunt, a screaming newborn, and a high school debate champion. At regular intervals, she hurls casually degrading insults. (Arthur’s head looks like “a football with glasses.”) Under her reign, PBS could have stood for Particularly Brutal Sass.

D.W. makes well-crafted jokes and has impeccable timing, which is something Arthur and other characters are known for being sweetly relatable. Arthur is a classic Harry Potter–type, Francine’s a Hermione, Buster is a Ron-Neville, and Muffy is Malfoy. D.W. stands apart—not heroic, or malevolent, or a follower. She is a four-year-old who is very verbal and encourages her parents to abandon her brother. D.W. has a stellar imagination—she creates an imaginary friend named Nadine Flumberghast. She is the victim of theft by an alien of snowball. She is not afraid to perform her own dental work in the hope of making some cash. Sometimes she resorts to blackmail. She is cast in school plays as a tree, but she fights back. She is a patron of libraries, but she cannot read. 

Through ArthurEight actors portrayed D.W. in the quarter-century-long run of’s series. All of them were male. Debra Toffan is a casting director and hosts a podcast in 2021. Arthur, explained the decision: “D.W. is a rough-and-tumble little girl,” she said. “She’s a little brat.” When little girls auditioned for the show, they were “just too sweet.” It seems like there’s something there about how early girls can be coded as “little brats” for having the same characteristics that are considered acceptable in boys. D.W. would see the injustice in this. She would either respond with a devastating zinger, or by playing “Crazy Bus” 532 times in a row. 

The word iconIt is worn out, but it suits D.W. like a pair Mary Janes. D.W. Read, Happy Trails. We will always cherish your trusty tricycle. 

Jenny Singer is a staff author Glamour. You can follow her Follow us on Twitter.