Roald Dahl does it again! This time quite brilliantly with Matilda. Dahl introduces the charismatic and adorable protagonist: Matilda Wormwood. Matilda is beyond your average child. Matilda’s fondness of books has led her to start reading at the age of three. By the age of five she is able to compute complicated multiplication and division. She fully comprehends books such as Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Animal Farm by George Orwell.
Matilda is also confronted with all sorts of problems and problematic characters. One mainly, Matilda’s family. The Wormwoods absolutely abhor any sort of education and critical thinking. They spend their free time watching the television screen until their minds melt away while destroying any books Matilda may have borrowed from the local library.
Matilda’s headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, also despises the innocent Matilda. As a matter of fact, Miss Trunchbull nearly hates all children calling them mischievous and filthy. The behemoth of a giant, Miss Trunchbull uses all forms of unsavory disciplinary actions to torment the poor kids at school.
Matilda does have a few allies however. She befriends a few of her classmates as well as her homeroom teacher, Miss Honey. Miss Honey encourages Matilda to read, speak and think freely. Matilda challenges her mind so far she even develops the power to move objects with her mind! How will Matilda escape from her dreadful family and headmistress? Will brainpower overcome pure brute strength?
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