Matilda

Matilda

Matilda

Introduction

Matilda is a children's novel by British author Roald Dahl. It was published in 1988 by Jonathan Cape in London, with illustrations by Quentin Blake. The story is about Matilda Wormwood, an extraordinary child with ordinary and rather unpleasant parents, who are contemptuous of their daughter's prodigious talents. Matilda was adapted into a film in 1996, a two-part adaptation for BBC Radio 4 (later re-broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra) starring Nicola McAuliffe as Matilda and narrated by Lenny Henry and a musical in 2010.

Discussion

The parents of the five-year-old Matilda Wormwood have no interest in their daughter, but if they did, they would have discovered that she is incredibly gifted. Matilda taught herself to read at three years old, though the only actual books in the house were a cookbook and magazines. When she asks for a real book for herself, her father rudely turns her down. In spite of this, Matilda looks up the address of the local library, where she finishes all the children's books within a short time, thus leaving her to read adult novels, which she really enjoys. The librarian gives Matilda her own library card, and she is able to borrow books to read at home.[3]

Mr. Wormwood sells used cars for a living, and tells Matilda and her brother Michael about how he makes a handsome profit by cheating customers out of their money in ingenious ways (such as gluing back bumpers that have fallen off). Matilda accuses him of being a crook though he shrugs it off. Matilda resolves to teach her parents a lesson every time they do something wrong, carrying out a variety of pranks.

Matilda's father sells a car to Miss Agatha Trunchbull, headmistress of Crunchem Hall Primary School. He arranges with her to have Matilda attend the school, where she impresses her teacher Miss Jennifer "Jenny" Honey with her amazing intellectual capacity and mathematical ability.[3] Miss Honey appeals to Miss Trunchbull to have Matilda moved up into an advanced class, but the child-hating headmistress refuses. Miss Honey also tries, in vain, to reason with Mr and Mrs. Wormwood, but she is not welcomed, and both parents make it clear that they are not interested either in Matilda or the value of education. Matilda quickly learns of the Trunchbull's capacity for punishing children, as she carries out cruelties for minor reasons. When Matilda's friend Lavender places a newt in the Trunchbull's glass of water, Matilda is blamed and the tyrant refuses to listen to her. Incensed by the injustice, Matilda soon discovers she has psychokinetic powers, as she focuses on the glass with her eyes, and surprises everyone by tipping it over right onto Miss Trunchbull.

Befriended by Miss Honey, Matilda later proves to her that she made the glass move. Miss Honey confides in Matilda that Miss Trunchbull is actually her aunt, who took over her father's home and abused her after her father, Magnus, supposedly killed himself. Miss Honey was able to escape, though is still as dominated by the Trunchbull's tyranny ...