Themes
Chosen Family
The novel paints a stark picture of childhood, sharply contrasting the love and support that should characterize families and schools with the oppressive neglect Matilda endures. Roald Dahl, the author of the book, explores the devastating effects of not receiving love and support from family and the transformative power of finding them elsewhere.
A healthy family is one where parents nurture curiosity and individuality and provide a safe haven for emotional and intellectual growth. The Wormwoods represent the ultimate neglectful unit, devoid of affection, understanding, and encouragement. They constantly belittle Matilda's intelligence and prioritize their own pleasures at the expense of hers.
Schools, ideally, should foster a similar environment of nurture and support where teachers act as facilitators rather than authoritarian figures. Crunchem Hall, under Miss Trunchbull, is the opposite. She scares the children, punishes them for their curiosity, and crushes their individuality.
Miss Honey, despite her own struggles, recognizes and nurtures Matilda's potential. Miss Honey has also been deeply neglected and abused as a child. She continues to suffer emotional and financial hardship inflicted by Miss Trunchbull, her cruel aunt. She, however, becomes a chosen family member, offering the love and support the Wormwoods deny. In the library, Matilda finds comfort and encouragement; her love for reading is blossoming under Mrs. Phelps' gentle guidance.
"Matilda" teaches us that the family we are born into doesn't define us. When biological families fail to provide love and support, we have the agency to create chosen families—communities, educators, and mentors who see and believe in us. Miss Honey and Mrs. Phelps, in their different ways, become Matilda's chosen family, demonstrating that genuine connection and support can be found beyond blood ties. This transformative power of connection becomes Matilda's weapon against neglect and oppression, ultimately empowering her to create a new future for herself.
Fighting Injustice
In Roald Dahl's "Matilda," the fight against injustice transcends age and size. Despite being a child, Matilda refuses to be a silent victim. From mischievous pranks to telekinetic rebellion, she challenges the oppressive adults in her life. First, she fights injustice within her own home. Through clever pranks and manipulations, she subtly defies her neglectful parents. She dyes her father's hair and glues his hat to his hair. These acts, while mischievous, are her way of fighting for respect and asserting her individuality against parental tyranny.
Matilda recognizes the unjust treatment of others. While the timid Miss Honey suffers under Miss Trunchbull's cruelty, she lacks the courage to fight back. However, Matilda does not hesitate. She bravely confronts Miss Trunchbull, refusing to back down when accused of lying.
Miss Honey, on the other hand, embodies the struggle of fighting against injustice while lacking the power to directly confront it. Trapped under Miss Trunchbull's tyranny, she endures abuse and humiliation, unable to stand up for herself. However, her compassion extends beyond her own suffering. She advocates for Matilda to Miss Trunchbull, highlighting the girl's neglected potential even at the risk of further abuse. This act, though seemingly small, signifies her unwavering belief in justice and her desire to protect those weaker than herself. It also showcases the importance of using one's voice, regardless of power dynamics.
Matilda's fight takes a fantastical turn with the development of her telekinetic powers. When Miss Trunchbull calls her a liar, Matilda, fueled by years of accumulated injustices, unleashes her telekinetic powers. This newfound ability empowers her to directly confront injustice. She uses her powers to punish the cruel, reward the kind, and ultimately free Miss Honey from Miss Trunchbull's tyranny.
Similar acts of defiance can be found throughout the story. Lavender's daring ‘newt prank’ on Miss Trunchbull exemplifies the courage to challenge authority through unconventional means. Bruce Bogtrotter's defiance by eating the entire cake becomes a symbol of resisting forced submission. They may not possess Matilda's extraordinary abilities, but they too choose to stand up against Miss Trunchbull's oppressive regime, even if it means facing punishment.
"Matilda" teaches us that the fight against injustice transcends age and power. It reminds us that even children can be powerful agents of change, inspiring us to use our voices and stand up for what is right, regardless of the odds.
Knowledge and Education
The theme of the value of knowledge and education is recurrent in the novel. For Matilda, trapped in a home devoid of love and books, reading offers an escape from her neglectful family.
Her curiosity to learn also shapes her moral compass, instilling in her a deep sense of empathy and a desire to challenge the injustices she witnesses. When Miss Honey faces eviction, Matilda's innate sense of right and wrong, nurtured by her reading, fuels her actions. She uses her newfound telekinetic abilities not for personal gain but to protect the innocent and fight for what's right.
Miss Honey, an embodiment of the transformative power of education, recognizes Matilda's exceptional mind. She encourages her intellectual curiosity, stating that with proper support, Matilda could join university. This belief in her potential becomes a beacon of hope for Matilda, demonstrating the transformative power education holds for those trapped in cycles of neglect.
Dahl subtly critiques the societal norms that do not allow children to achieve knowledge. The Wormwoods, with their superficial interests, fail to nurture Matilda’s thirst for knowledge. Crunchem Hall, with its rigid curriculum and emphasis on obedience, becomes a symbol of a flawed education system that stifles creativity and individuality and takes the joy out of learning.
By highlighting the transformative potential of reading and the nurturing role of educators like Miss Honey, Dahl reminds us that education and knowledge can open new doors.
Female Independence
In Roald Dahl's "Matilda," the theme of women’s financial security plays out through a stark contrast between characters.
Mrs. Wormwood embodies the flawed belief that a woman's worth lies solely in her looks and her ability to snag a wealthy husband. Constantly preoccupied with dyeing her hair and applying excessive makeup, she prioritizes superficiality over financial independence. However, her own unrefined image and her husband's shady dealings as a used car salesman expose the shortcomings of this approach. In the end, she had to abandon their house hurriedly because she relied on Mr. Wormwood's dubious schemes.
In Miss Trunchbull’s case, while initially appearing powerful and financially stable, her wealth is revealed to be built on theft. Having stolen money from her brother-in-law, she denies Miss Honey, the rightful heir, her inheritance, further perpetuating the financial hardship of another woman. However, Miss Trunchbull's reliance on ill-gotten gains ultimately leads to her downfall. She loses her wealth and her position of power after Matilda exposes her and forces her to flee.
In contrast, Miss Honey represents the empowering path of self-reliance. Despite experiencing financial hardship due to Miss Trunchbull's greed, she refuses to rely on others. Determined to build a stable future, she takes charge of her life, dedicating herself to her teaching career. Unlike Mrs. Wormwood's dependence on fleeting beauty or Miss Trunchbull's stolen wealth, Miss Honey's security stems from her own hard work and perseverance.
By the end of the story, the message is clear: true security for women lies not in superficiality or ill-gotten gains but in self-reliance and financial independence. Miss Honey's success highlights the importance of education, hard work, and building one's own path to financial security. This message, though set in a fantastical story, resonates with real-world struggles.
Skewed Power Dynamics
The power dynamic between adults and children is hilariously skewed, exposing the absurdity of expecting blind obedience from minds brimming with curiosity. Children, like Matilda, often find their voices unheard and their needs disregarded.
At home, Matilda is forced to submit to her parents' whims, even when they clash with her own sense of right and wrong. Her desire to read is met with demands to watch mindless TV, her intelligence ridiculed, and her individuality squashed. This stifling environment mirrors the oppressive rule of Miss Trunchbull at Crunchem Hall. Here, children are punished for the most trivial offenses, from wearing pigtails to simply knowing more than Miss Trunchbull deems appropriate. Adults, even seemingly sensible parents, dismiss children's complaints as childish fabrications, perpetuating a power imbalance that leaves children vulnerable.
As children cannot directly demand that their needs be met, they resort to deviant tactics. Matilda and her classmates engage in mischievous pranks, which are subtle acts of rebellion against adult authority. These pranks, like Lavender putting a newt into a water pitcher and Bruce Bogtrotter's heroic cake-eating defiance, offer a glimpse of the simmering frustration beneath the surface of forced obedience. The fact that other students found these actions amusing depicts their solidarity against oppressive adult figures.
Matilda's rebellion is a more fantastical one. In response to the constant oppression, she develops telekinetic powers, a manifestation of her burgeoning intellect and desire for control. These powers become her weapon against injustice, allowing her to right wrongs and challenge the established order. The adults, who are initially dismissive, are forced to confront the consequences of their actions.
