Matilda is a children's novel written by British author Roald Dahl in 1988. It's about a bright girl who loves books. Since its release, it has become a classic, inspiring a hit film, an award-winning musical, and readers worldwide. Here, we'll examine the origins of the story, its characters, and its cultural impact.
Who Created the Matilda Story?
Matilda was written by the world-famous British author Roald Dahl. Thanks to his exceptional ability to craft unique tales rich in heart and moral values, his stories are among the most beloved in the world. Dahl's prolific career includes titles such as James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, The BFG, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and, of course, Matilda. As you may have noticed, the majority of his works have been adapted for the big screen and have even starred famous actors such as Gene Wilder, Johnny Depp, and Anjelica Huston.
Among them, the story of Matilda is a peculiar one! The high amount of copies sold worldwide made Dahl one of the most successful authors on the planet. And this story for children has outsold all of his other works, and was even named among the 30th best children's novel in a survey published by the School Library Journal. Also, Time Magazine has ranked Matilda on its list of 100 Best Young-Adult Books of All Time.
When Was Matilda Written and First Published?
Released in 1988, the Matilda novel was published by Jonathan Cape and written by the talented Roald Dahl. Since then, it has been adapted as an audio reading by Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet, as a 1996 feature film directed by Danny DeVito, as a BBC Radio program, and since 2010, much like Mary Poppins, as a musical touring the world.
and was Roald Dahl's 27th published book.
Curiously, the 1996 feature film, directed by the brilliant Danny DeVito, was considered a box-office bomb, as it only grossed $33 million against a $36 million budget. Yet, as a movie, Matilda became a cult classic, watched repeatedly by people worldwide across almost all age groups.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Matilda's release, in October 2018, Quentin Blake, the original illustrator of the novel, released a series of drawings that opened up his imagination to what her life might be like and how she would look as a 30-year-old.
Due to its incredible success at Stratford-upon-Avon, Matilda opened on the West End to rave reviews, winning seven Olivier Awards. The same occurred on Broadway when Matilda won five Tony Awards. Exploring adult singing lessons can be a great way to tap into your inner performer.
Here's one of the top songs from the musical.
I ‘always wanted’ to make a ‘Matilda’ sequel.
Director Danny DeVito, in an interview with ComicBook.com
What Is the Plot of Matilda?
If you had a momentary lapse of reason or belong to the very few who have no idea about the plot, the following details will help you to become acquainted with the story.
Matilda is a highly brilliant girl who finds comfort in the books she reads at the public library. When at school, Matilda learns wonderful things, makes friends, and creates a special relationship with her magnificent teacher, Miss Honey, who offers the kind of warmth and kindness found in Maria in The Sound of Music. After becoming familiar with Matilda's extraordinary abilities, Miss Honey suggests that she attend a higher class, but this idea is rejected when presented to the headmistress and Matilda's parents.
Miss Honey and Matilda watch submissively as Miss Agatha Trunchbull inflicts horrible punishments on her students. And after developing a strong bond, Matilda reveals to Miss Honey an incredible secret: she has telekinetic powers! Miss Honey also confesses: she had an abusive aunt/legal guardian, who turns out to be Miss Trunchbull herself.
Matilda plans to avenge the crimes committed against Miss Honey by practicing her telekinetic powers at home and using them against Miss Trunchbull. She successfully does so, forcing Miss Trunchbull to hand over her house to Miss Honey and leave the school.
Upon Miss Trunchbull's departure, Mr. Trilby becomes the school's headmaster. He turns out to be a very kind and mild-tempered man, who sends Matilda to the highest level of schooling. Since Matilda is using all her brainpower on her complex schoolwork, she loses her telekinetic powers, which proves to be a relief.
The story comes to a happy ending when Matilda’s parents are forced to flee the country due to Mr. Wormwood’s involvement in selling stolen cars. Refusing to leave this newfound life, Matilda asks to stay with Miss Honey, to which her parents uninterestingly agree. Miss Honey and Matilda live happily ever after!
Time Magazine has ranked Matilda on its list of 100 Best Young-Adult Books of All Time.
Is Matilda Based on a True Story?
While it has profoundly resonated with readers and audiences alike, Matilda is a work of fiction, but one that's very truthful, like The Wizard of Oz (which itself is an allegory for late-19th-century America). Then, why does it feel like a true story? Many reasons make it feel so real, and among them, one can highlight:
- The story feels timeless because, regardless of age, one can extract many valuable lessons about life and the power of turning adversity into triumph.
- The meaningful description of the locations and how they ingeniously converge with the protagonists to create an unforgettable plot.
- And, because some of the characters were actually based on real people and places known to the author.
How Did the Story of Matilda Come about?
Even though it was published near the end of his life, Roald Dahl spent a couple of years writing Matilda, and based many of the events and characters on personages from his actual life.
For example, do you remember Mr. Wormwood? He was based on a real person that Dahl encountered from his home village of Great Missenden, in Buckinghamshire. And what about Mrs. Phelps's library? The place where Matilda read from a very young age was inspired by Dahl's own (real-life) town library.
Is Matilda a Witch?
Matilda is not officially a witch, at least in the most traditional sense, which typically involves using a wand, casting charms, attending wizard school, or living in a magical world, like Elsa from Frozen. Yet, after starting to trust Miss Honey, she does reveal that she has been developing an extraordinary talent: telekinetic powers.
Along the story, she learns to master her skills to help others and avenge injustices. These, though, disappear once she's using all her capacity and brainpower for her increasingly complex school work. It serves as a colorful example of how many kids have talents that can serve the greater good, which are often ignored by their surroundings and underdeveloped because they lack the appropriate stimulation.
Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.
Roald Dahl
The Main Characters in Matilda
Matilda features characters as engaging and whimsical as those in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Many of the characters featured in the Matilda film, musical, and novel are also present in the original novel. Although they are not the only ones, here are the top 5 personalities crafted by Dahl’s imagination in this classic.
Contrary to the rest of her dull and self-involved family, Matilda is a light in a darkened world. She is brilliant, possessing fantastic skills in mathematics and language arts. Feeling neglected by them, she often plays pranks on her parents.
Her brilliance leads her to develop telekinetic abilities! She perfects her powers to get back at the cruel headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, and save her dear teacher, Miss Honey. Matilda is characterized by her humility and likability. In the movie, she was masterfully played by the young actress Mara Wilson.
In the story of Matilda, this character embodies evil. Miss Trunchbull despises kids!
She is abusive towards the students in her school and frequently uses the torture chamber known as "Chokey" to punish the children. She was the legal guardian of Miss Honey, and her aunt.
The true hero in Matilda’s story is her school teacher. As a loving educator, she’s the first person to recognize her intelligence and potential truly.
She is shy, sweet, and adored by all of her students. Throughout the story, Miss Honey becomes the confidant and motherly figure that Matilda never had.
The father of Matilda and husband of Zinnia Wormwood is not a nice person at all: neglectful, sneaky, and arrogant.
Having been dishonest in many business dealings, he is forced to flee the country with his family, yet he agrees to leave little Matilda behind.
Extremely vain and self-centered, she prizes looks over intelligence and gives no importance to Matilda's intellectual gifts. She has often left Matilda alone at the house to run errands and even play bingo.
She shares the same worldview as Mr. Wormwood, which makes them a perfectly matched pair of terrible parents.
Somewhere inside all of us is the power to change the world.
Roald Dahl, Matilda
Whether you were a fan of the book, the movie, the stage production, or the musical, we bet that Matilda has been part of your life at one point or another, maybe because you grew up with her, or she was one of your kids' or grandkids' favorites. With Superprof, you can discover new ways to be empowered, relive your fantasies, and bring your young dreams to life! Additionally, consider taking singing lessons near you to develop your passion for the arts further.
With Superprof, you can take singing lessons to sing along to the Matilda musical, whether you're practicing Miss Honey's gentle ballads or the funny numbers featuring Trunchbull. Perhaps you're going to play the clever girl who outsmarts her father. Whatever role you dream of, start with the right lesson.
You can access expert singing teachers and tutors on the Superprof website. They can create a personalized study plan to suit your voice and goals and with the first session for free, you can try a few tutors, such as singing lessons near me, either near your place or even online.
Do you have to prep for auditions? Have you just read the book or watched the musical and are feeling inspired? Whatever your level, you can find qualified and experienced tutors right here. Start your search today!
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