History Literature / Matilda

* BrainsVersusBrawn: BadassBookworm and AdorablyPrecociousChild Matilda uses her wit and intelligence against to [[DeanBitterman The Trunchbull]] who tends to use physical aggression, intimidation and brute force to assert her dominance over the school.

* BrainsVersusBrawn: Matilda and Ms. Honey are both very bookish who use their intelligence against to The Trunchball who tends to use aggression, intimidation and brute force to assert her dominance around the school.

In 2022, another film adaptation directed by Matthew Warchus and distributed by the British branch of Creator/SonyPictures will be released in the UK and onto Creator/{{Netflix}} internationally.

* When Matilda and Ms. Honey are paired up, Matilda is the more open extroverted PluckyGirl (red) compared to Ms. Honey who is still the blue.

** Taken UpToEleven at the end when it's revealed that [[spoiler: Matilda's dad is receiving stolen cars from the mob.]]

* InformedPoverty: When Matilda is invited to Miss Honey's cottage, it is clear that Miss Honey is very poor indeed: the tiny house has no running water, and only a camping stove; and the "sitting room" is completely bare apart from three boxes to serve as furniture. Miss Honey mentions having no bed or bath. Matilda realizes at once that something is wrong, and asks if she is paid very badly, which Miss Honey denies. Matilda then suggests that Miss Honey prefers a very simple and basic lifestyle; Miss Honey then tells her the sad story of why she is so poor.

In 2022, another film adaptation by the British branch of Creator/SonyPictures will be released in the UK and onto Creator/{{Netflix}} internationally.

In 2022, another film adaptation by the British branch of Creator/{{SonyPictures}} will be released in the UK and onto Creator/{{Netflix}} internationally.

In 2022, another film adaptation by the British branch of [[Creator/{{SonyPicturesEntertainment}} Sony Pictures]] will be released in the UK and onto Creator/{{Netflix}} internationally.

* BooksVsScreens: The eponymous girl's parents love to watch TV and think that, since they have television, books are pointless. Meanwhile, all the bookworms-- Matilda, Miss Honey, and the librarian-- think ''television'' is pointless (Matilda even goes so far as to call the TV the "dreaded box").

* 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.

--> '''Nigel:''' Mrs. D, Mrs. I, Mrs. FFI, Mrs. C, Mrs. U, Mrs. LTY. That spells "difficulty".
--> '''Miss Trunchbull:''' How perfectly ridiculous! Why are all these women married? And you're not supposed to be teaching poetry when you're teaching spelling, Miss Honey.

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 -- Agatha 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 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.

* AbusiveParents: 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 was even more abusive to her than she is to the students]].
* AdultsAreUseless: Roald Dahl's SignatureStyle. 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. 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 [[RefugeInAudacity 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.

** Miss Trunchbull hates many things, but there are two things she apparently really can't stand: pigtails and boys with long hair.
** Matilda's is being accused of something she didn't do - and this is actually what triggers her PsychicPowers in the first place.

* ChildProdigy: Matilda is 5 years old, but has been reading classical literature during her spare time, and is able to do mental arithmetic that even her teacher needs to work out on paper.

* CriticalDissonance: InUniverse. Matilda comments that while she thinks that Mr Creator/CSLewis is a very good writer, he has one failing: there are no funny bits in his books. Judging by the number of "Funny" entries listed on TV Tropes for his works, it would seem that many tropers do not agree with her.

* DeanBitterman: The Trunchbull is the Headmistress of Crunchem Hall, and abuses her power to harm the students and the intimidate into silence.

* DoNotDoThisCoolThing: [[invoked]] At Mr. Wormwood's dealership, Harry shows Michael the tools of the trade, namely supergluing a fender on, using a two-bit drill to rewind the odometer and putting sawdust into the pipes. Matilda is disgusted with how her dad cheats and potentially endangers lives, but Michael is impressed with the drill bit.

* EvilTeacher: The Trunchbull practically tortures her students, and is implied to have [[spoiler:murdered her brother-in-law, Magnus, to gain control of his assets and abused his daughter (Miss Honey) while she was in her care]].

* FashionVictimVillain: In-universe example. Mr Wormwood wears bright green/yellow checked suits and pork pie hats. He thinks they make him look dashing.
* FinancialAbuse: Miss Honey reveals that [[spoiler: Miss Trunchbull forced her to surrender her wages for a duration of ten years, to pay back for all the "clothes, books and food" that the dear aunt Trunchbull paid for]], receiving one pound a week as allowance and not allowed to keep her inheritance. Matilda quickly intuits that it was a means of keeping Miss Honey at home to cook and keep house, though it didn't work when Miss Honey found a farmers' shed she could rent for 10 pence a week, and she suggests that Miss Honey draw unemployment money or hire a lawyer. In the end, [[spoiler: following Miss Trunchbull's banishment, Miss Honey learns she's the official owner of her father's house and has access to her savings.]]

* ForceFeeding: Involves a overweight kid who is forced to eat chocolate cake, as punishment for supposedly stealing Miss Trunchbull's cake, while the whole school watches. In other words, he is not allowed to stop eating until he has finished the ''whole'' cake, and it's HUGE too (18 inches in diameter). Even if he gets sick, he has to keep eating. It turns out to be a [[{{Unishment}} less-than-effective punishment]], however, as the kid eventually manages to ''finish'' the cake without getting sick, and gets a standing ovation from the entire student body. Trunchbull, exasperated, smashes the cake platter over the kid's head, which ''still'' doesn't faze the kid. It's the first time in the story that we see Miss Trunchbull "lose" an encounter.

* FirstNameBasis: [[spoiler: Ms. Trunchbull, Ms. Honey and Mr. Honey refer(ed) to each other as Agatha, Jenny and Magnus in private. Matilda uses it in her plan.]]

* GirlishPigtails: Miss Trunchbull hates them. She first shows how horrifying she is by grabbing a girl by her pigtails and using them as a handgrip prior to throwing her across the schoolyard.
* GuileHero: No one can beat the Trunchbull in a physical confrontation. Matilda wins by frightening Agatha Trunchbull with the "ghost" of Magnus Honey. She had practice at this sort of heroism against [[StarterVillain her father]] earlier in the book.

** Sometimes your biological family are just plain terrible people and it's in your best interest to get away from them. Both the film and book end with Matilda getting away from her parents and living with Miss Honey who provides her with the love and support she was denied at home and this is presented as being a happy ending. It's an important counterpoint to the message that people should stick by their biological families no matter what, which can be taken sadly internalized by many kids that they should put up with abuse and mistreatment due to supposed parental love that, in too many instances, just isn't there.
** Lampshaded by Matilda, just because someone is an adult, that doesn't necessarily make them right. And specifically in the situation of Matilda's family, adults (through a number of reasons) [[ParentsAsPeople may be incorrect in their decisions and can hurt their children]], even if their intentions are not necessairly ''evil'' per se. You can see that the Wormwoods actually believe that their form of parenting is in Matilda's best interest since they see nothing wrong with the way they (and their older child Michael) were brought up and believe Matilda is just acting out.

** Mr. Wormwood's secondhand car business. Matilda's dad is the stereotypical sleazy car salesman, even putting sawdust 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. {{Deconstructed|Trope}} when the police catch on and Mr. Wormwood goes on the run.
** Taken UpToEleven at the end when its revealed that [[spoiler: Matilda's dad is receiving stolen cars from the mob.]]
* HorribleHousing: Her [[EvilUncle Evil Aunt]]'s FinancialAbuse forces Miss Honey to rent a farmer's shed. It has no furnishings, appliances, or running water, and even the farmer thought it was unfit for habitation, but Miss Honey takes pride in keeping it (and herself) as neat and tidy as possible.

* ImprovisedWeapon: When the Wormwoods hear a creepy voice saying "hello, hello, hello" in their house, Mrs Wormwood thinks it's a burglar, and the whole family creeps into the kitchen to investigate. Mr Wormwood arms himself with a golf club, Mrs Wormwood with a poker, Michael with a table lamp. Matilda (who planted the talking parrot) joins in the act, and takes the knife she has been eating with.

* InformedPoverty: When Matilda is invited to Miss Honey's cottage, it is clear that Miss Honey is very poor indeed: the tiny house has no running water, and only a camping stove; and the "sitting room" is completely bare apart from three boxes to serve as furniture. Miss Honey mentions having no bed or bath. Matilda realises at once that something is wrong, and asks if she is paid very badly, which Miss Honey denies. Matilda then suggests that Miss Honey prefers a very simple and basic lifestyle; Miss Honey then tells her the sad story of why she is so poor.
* InsaneTrollLogic: Trunchbull operates on this when it comes to dealing with children. During her lesson with Matilda's class, she punishes kids for answering math and spelling questions wrong, but attempts to lash out on them for getting them right, too. She suspects they somehow choose to grow up slowly on purpose, and her idea of a perfect school is one completely unoccupied, "with no children at all."

** At the end of the book we have Harry Wormwood preparing to flee the police who are onto him and his crooked car business. Specifically, to Spain.
** Ms. Trunchbull. Yes she's been humiliated in front of the class and driven out of town but that's hardly punishment for what she'd been doing to the students. [[spoiler: She also receives no repercussions for murdering her brother-in-law or stealing Ms. Honey's inheritance.]]

* [[GentlemanAndAScholar Lady and a Scholar]]: Matilda is a genuinely sweet-natured kid, and never thinks of herself as superior for her brains. If she's asked anything intellectual, she will respond in a polite fashion. She really only dislikes people who are annoying or rude to her. The book carefully emphasizes this.

* MisaimedFandom: In-universe. One of Miss Trunchbull's favourite books is Dickens's ''Literature/NicholasNickleby'', but for a reason totally contrary to Dickens's intention or virtually any reader's view: she admires the SadistTeacher Wackford Squeers as a model for what a headteacher should be.

* NeverSuicide: Miss Honey speculates that [[spoiler: her father's suicide was actually a murder by Miss Trunchbull. Trunchbull's reaction to Matilda's staged haunting and "Magnus" accusing her of killing him seems to confirm it.]]

* PaperDestructionOfAnger: Annoyed with Matilda having her nose in a book all the time, Mr Wormwood spitefully tears up a book she is reading.

* PollyWantsAMicrophone: Matilda meets a neighbor kid who owns a parrot that can say two phrases--"Hello" and "Rattle my bones", the latter of which is said in a creepy tone. She borrows it in exchange for a week's pocket money, then hides it in the chimney in her house. The end result is that her parents tear the house apart looking for what's making the noise, ultimately fearing a ghost, and Matilda gives the neighbor kid his parrot back with her parents ''never'' figuring out what happened.
* PowerLossDepression: Subverted. Matilda being put in a class where she is actually being challenged causes her to lose her powers. But as Ms. Honey explains, it was being bored out of her skull that gave her powers, so she doesn't regret the loss because she's finally found something to occupy her brain. In the film she keeps her powers in the end.

--> If only he [Mr Wormwood] would read a little Dickens or Kipling he would learn that there was more to life than cheating people and watching television.

--> '''Nigel:''' Mrs D, Mrs I, Mrs FFI, Mrs C, Mrs U, Mrs LTY. That spells "difficulty".

* StarterVillain: Mr Wormwood serves as the antagonist for the first few chapters before the Trunchbull is introduced.

* TheUnfavorite: Matilda's parents inexplicably hate her and refuse to believe she is any more intelligent than a lima bean, but favor her rather dim-witted brother Michael instead. Interestingly, Michael is [[GoodIsDumb a different kind of dumb]] and is nothing but pleasant to his sister (in the book at least), if too stupid to really try and help her. The book suggests at one point that Matilda's father at least is furious that she is able to get pleasure from things he cannot, specifically reading.

* WiseBeyondTheirYears: Matilda, big time. She's able to multiply large numbers in her head (eg. "13 times 379") [[ChildProdigy in seconds]]. She says she likes to read just about anything. It's implied that the two reasons she wasn't in advanced placement by now were because her parents don't believe in the value of education--and, of course, The Trunchbull's dislike of young children. [[spoiler:Once Miss Trunchbull is deposed, Matilda gets moved up to the top-level classes. Unfortunately, now that she's using her brain to the fullest, she can't use telekinesis anymore. Realizing that has her first confused, but then relieved that she's not "a miracle" anymore.]]

* BaldOfAwesome: Matilda's father, who is thoroughly reprehensible and stupid, believes that smart men have a good, thick set of hair. "[[AnalogyBackfire Like Shakespeare]]," Matilda once replied. He was willing to admit the potential intellect of the man until Matilda informed him that Shakespeare was bald--at which point he told her to either make sense or shut up.

* GirlishPigtails: Miss Trunchbull hates them. She first shows how horrifying she is by grabbing a girl by her pigtails and throwing her.

* SocietyMarchesOn: While cruel schools still exist, they are much less tolerated than they are now. Even mild speculation of abuse with no proof can get a school investigated just to be certain.

* NiceJobFixingItVillain: Miss Trunchbull falsely accusing Matilda of putting a newt in her jug ends up triggering Matilda's powers when Matilda feels indignant rage and successfully wills the cup to turn over onto Trunchbull's lap. It also starts the chain of events that lead to Miss Honey revealing that [[spoiler: the Trunchbull is her aunt]] and giving Matilda an incentive and plan to control her powers.