History Literature / Matilda

* HonestJohnsDealership: 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.

In 1996 a [[Film/{{Matilda}} film adaptation]] was made, starring Mara Wilson (''MiracleOn34thStreet'', ''Film/MrsDoubtfire'') in the lead and a frighteningly accurate Trunchbull in the form of Pam Ferris.

* WhatAnIdiot: Mr. Wormwood's approach to selling cars. He intentionally rigs the cars to break down after a few miles thinking that his custumers will return to the dealership that sold them the crappy cars in the first place to throw their money away on one crappy car after another. It never occurs to him that his dealership might get a negative reputation and eventually receive no business at all because everyone knows that the cars are little more than spray-painted junk.
** Then again, despite being suicidally dishonest, he's not exactly ''unsuccessful''.

* AdultsAreUseless[[note]] Roald Dahl's SignatureStyle[[/note]] : 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.
** It's possible it was set in a time when child abuse laws didn't exist, and the parents probably thought it was good for them.
** The upperclassman who tells Matilda and Lavender about the Trunchbull also mentions that she treats the parents the same way she treats the students.
** It is possible that the story is about how a child sees the world. Children often feel that their parent won't believe them if they said anything the parent doesn't want to hear, so for all the child knows the teacher could be a {{Complete Monster}} and their parents wouldn't pay attention. Lampshaded by the above upperclassman.

* AdultsAreUseless: 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.

In 2010, it was adapted into a [[Theater/Matilda stage musical]], written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by TimMinchin.

In 2010, it was adapted into a [[Theatre/Matilda stage musical]], written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by TimMinchin.

In 2010, it was adapted into a [[TheMusical stage musical]], written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by TimMinchin.

** Given that Matilda's powers are developed out of frustration, abuse, neglect and even abandonment, it's very easy to see how this story could have turned incredibly sour. Matilda, by rights, should have deep emotional scars at best, deep sociopathy and inability to bond with other human beings at worst. Think Crona from {{Soul Eater}}. In fact, her powers are mostly used for cheap pranks and fun, but its easy to imagine her causing serious harm through 'unfortunate accidents. However, this is a children's book, and Matilda has to become a well-balanced, likable person in spite of all these hardships.

* WhatAnIdiot: Mr. Wormwood's approach to selling cars. He intentionally rigs the cars to break down after a few miles thinking that his costumers will return to the dealership that sold them the crappy cars in the first place to throw their money away on one crappy car after another. It never occurs to him that his dealership might get a negative reputation and eventually receive no business at all because everyone knows that the cars are little more than spray-painted junk.

** the upperclassman who tells matilda and lavender about the Trunchbull also mentions that she treats the parents the same way she treats the students.

* TooDumbToLive: Mr. Wormwood's approach to selling cars. He intentionally rigs the cars to break down after a few miles thinking that his costumers will return to the dealership that sold them the crappy cars in the first place to throw their money away on one crappy car after another. It never occurs to him that his dealership might get a negative reputation and eventually receive no business at all because everyone knows that the cars are little more than spray-painted junk.
** Then again, despite being suicidally dishonest, he's not exactly ''unsuccessful''.

* TooDumbToLive: Mr. Wormwood's approach to selling cars. He intentionally rigs the cars to break down after a few miles thinking that his costumers will return to the dealership that sold them the crappy cars in the first place to throw their money away on one crappy car after another. It never occurs to him that his dealership might get a negative reputation and eventually receive no business at all because everyone knows that he cars are little more than spray-painted junk.

A RoaldDahl book about an exceptionally clever little girl, Matilda Wormwood, who has exceptionally horrible and ignorant parents. Matilda has a love of learning and books, and her parents think she is stupid and deride her for reading while they watch mindless {{Soap Opera}}s and Game Shows.

* BullyHunter: Of the anti-{{Sadist Teacher}} variety.

* FantasyForbiddingFather: Matilda's parents don't understand Matilda's love of books and learning, rejecting her for it. They prefer the more mundane Michael who is being coached to take over his father's company.

* PunishmentBox: the sadistic headmistress is fond of [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment (among other things)]] using the "Chokey," a closet lined with spikes, thus like an iron maiden in which there is just barely enough room to stand.

* SurpassedTheTeacher: It is clear from very early on in the book that Matilda has intellectual capabilities that are certainly beyond that of her teacher, Ms. Honey.

* TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening: Matilda's telekinesis first appears when she grows uncontrollably angry over being (loudly and violently) accused of something she did not do.

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 -- "The Trunchbull", her school's [[SadistTeacher sadistic headmistress]], as well as introducing the only person to truly recognize Matilda's amazing talent, Miss Honey. Matilda ultimately has to pit her prodigious intellect (and [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands newly discovered]] telekinetic powers) against the Trunchbull to liberate both the sorely oppressed children and her beloved teacher, as well as making a better life for herself.

* DaytimeDramaQueen: Matilda's parents are addicted to television, which is shown as one of their many character flaws. When Miss Honey goes to visit them at home, there's an American soap opera on, and Mrs. Wormwood in particular objects to being interrupted when "Willard is just about to propose to Roxanne!"

* DaytimeDramaQueen: Matilda's parents are addicted to television, which is shown as one of their many character flaws. When Miss Honey goes to visit them at home, there's an American soap opera on, and Mrs. Wormwood in particular objects to being interrupted when "Willard is just about to propose to Angelica!"

In 1996 a [[Film/{{Matilda}} film adaptation]] was made, starring Mara Wilson (''MiracleOn34thStreet'', ''MrsDoubtfire'') in the lead and a frighteningly accurate Trunchbull in the form of Pam Ferris.