Matilda (novel)

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. 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.

Plot

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 and unusually smart and 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.

Mr. Wormwood sells used cars for living and tells Matilda and her brother Michael how to make profit with cheating, but Matilda refuses and tells them that they were doing wrong.

Matilda visits Miss Honey in her new home often, but returns to her parents one afternoon to find them packing everything they have into the car, as the police have apparently discovered some of Mr. Wormwood's covert illegal activity and now the whole family is moving to Spain to escape the punishment. Miss Honey appears with Matilda and confronts the Wormwoods. Matilda begs her parents to let her stay with Miss Honey, which they do so without a second glance back at her.

It is clear that Matilda will have a better life with Miss Honey. She eventually discovers that she cannot use her telekinetic abilities anymore and Miss Honey suggests that she no longer has the mental resources to move and levitate inanimate objects with her mind, since all of her mental energy is focused on schoolwork.

Based on Roald Dahl's popular book, this fantasy explores themes of youthful independence and personal identity. From the moment she's born, Matilda Wormwood (Mara Wilson) couldn't be more different from her family. Her father (Danny DeVito) is an unscrupulous used car salesman, and her mother (Rhea Perlman) is a ninny who spends every day playing Bingo. Matilda learns to take care of herself, and she's incredibly smart. When her father finally allows her to go to school, it's a dream come true for Matilda. Her sprits sag only a little when she finds that the principal, Miss Trunchbull (Pam Ferris), openly hates all kids. Fortunately, Matilda's teacher Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz) recognizes Matilda's exceptional abilities (which include some telekinetic powers) and becomes her loyal friend.

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this often surreal family movie based on the book by Roald Dahlincludes a lot of cartoonish violence, nearly all of it perpetrated by a bullying school principal. Children who displease the evil principal are put in "the chokey," a dark closet lined with nails and broken glass. When Matilda's parents aren't neglecting her, they're berating her ... so she decides to punish them. But she also stands up for the principal's victims. The film explores themes of youthful independence and personal identity.