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Matilda (novel): Difference between revisions
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| caption =
| author = Roald Dahl
| central theme = The liberating power of knowledge
| elevator pitch = A very smart girl born from boorish parents develops psychic powers, which comes on handy when the times comes to confront the terrifying headmistress of her new school
| genre = Modern fantasy
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| wiki name =
}}
The first half of the book deals with Matilda discovering how to use her intellect against her parents by playing tricks, like supergluing her father's hat to his head. The second half of the book pits her against a far more formidable enemy
In 1996 a [[Matilda (film)|film adaptation]] was made, starring [[Mara Wilson]] (''[[Miracle on 34th Street]]'', ''[[Mrs. Doubtfire]]'') in the lead and a frighteningly accurate Trunchbull in the form of Pam Ferris.
In 2010, it was adapted into a [[The Musical|stage musical]], written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by [[Tim Minchin]]. An film adaptation of the musical is to be released on Netflix in late 2022, starring Alisha Weir as Matilda and [[Emma Thompson]] as Trunchbull.
{{tropelist}}
* [[Abusive Parents]]: Matilda's parents verbally berate her and neglect her every need. Later in the book, it's revealed that {{spoiler|Miss Honey was raised by The Trunchbull, who wasn't any less abusive to her than she is with the students}}.
* [[Adults Are Useless]]: None of the teachers at Crunchem Hall challenge The Trunchbull because they are absolutely terrified of her. It is eventually discovered that Miss Honey's fears of her are particularly justified. The parents, however, don't have much of an excuse. Not a single student manages to convince their parents that The Chokey exists. It's sort of justified by Matilda's theory that the various punishments from The Trunchbull are so over-the-top that the parents simply don't believe it. Of course, it's probably Dahl's commentary on the boarding schools he himself attended as a child.
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* [[Hair-Trigger Temper]]: Miss Trunchbull.
* [[Happily Ever After]]: Well, Matilda and Miss Honey anyway.
* [[Harsh Life Revelation Aesop]]: The opening chapter outright state that some parents are plain terrible. The Wormwoods neglect their younger daughter Matilda, ignore her polite requests to buy a book, and deny that she's a genius. Matilda fights back by playing pranks, and eventually begs her grade school teacher Miss Honey to adopt her when the Wormwoods have to flee the country. (The book, movie, and musical adaptation all depict this as a happy ending.)
* [[Honest John's Dealership]]: Mr. Wormwood's secondhand car business. Matilda's dad is the stereotypical sleazy car salesman, even putting sand in the oil so that the engine will burn out and they have to come back and buy a new car. The book contains a scene in which Mr. Wormwood teaches Michael the tricks to making a lemon look better.
* [[Hot Teacher]]: Miss Honey.
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* [[Wise Beyond Their Years]]: Matilda, big time. She's able to multiply large numbers in her head (eg. "13 times 379") [[Child Prodigy|in seconds]]. She says she likes to read just about anything. It's implied that the only reason she wasn't in advanced placement by now was because her parents don't believe in the value of education.
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[[Category:Children's Literature]]▼
[[Category:Matilda]]
▲[[Category:Children's Literature]]
[[Category:Literature of the 1980s]]
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