Matilda's Domestic Pranks

Matilda

This subplot traces Matilda Wormwood’s three carefully planned pranks as small acts of resistance to her father's insults and control.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Glued Hat The Glued Hat from "Matilda". A Sticky Reprisal Matilda applies superglue inside Mr. Wormwood’s favorite hat after he insults her intelligence.

The Glued Hat from "Matilda". A Sticky Reprisal Matilda applies superglue inside Mr. Wormwood’s favorite hat after he insults her intelligence.

A Sticky Reprisal Matilda applies superglue inside Mr. Wormwood’s favorite hat after he insults her intelligence. Public Discomfort He cannot remove it without pain and wears it until it must be cut away. Consequence Matilda finds a way to make her father’s arrogance temporarily ridiculous.

The Parrot in the Chimney The Parrot in the Chimney from "Matilda". Staging a Haunting Matilda borrows a talking parrot and hides its cage in the dining-room chimney.

The Parrot in the Chimney from "Matilda". Staging a Haunting Matilda borrows a talking parrot and hides its cage in the dining-room chimney.

Staging a Haunting Matilda borrows a talking parrot and hides its cage in the dining-room chimney. Panic The family hears the bird and mistakes its calls for a ghost or intruder. Consequence Her parents flee the room, while Matilda turns their credulity into comic payback.

Platinum Hair Platinum Hair from "Matilda". A Chemical Surprise Matilda replaces much of Mr. Wormwood’s hair lotion with her mother’s strong platinum hair dye.

Platinum Hair from "Matilda". A Chemical Surprise Matilda replaces much of Mr. Wormwood’s hair lotion with her mother’s strong platinum hair dye.

A Chemical Surprise Matilda replaces much of Mr. Wormwood’s hair lotion with her mother’s strong platinum hair dye. Exposure His hair changes color, alarming the family and disrupting his self-image. Consequence The prank answers his latest insult without requiring Matilda to confront his greater physical power.

Temporary Restraint Temporary Restraint from "Matilda". A Brief Change at Home After the hat incident, Mr. Wormwood becomes less boastful and overbearing for a short time.

Temporary Restraint from "Matilda". A Brief Change at Home After the hat incident, Mr. Wormwood becomes less boastful and overbearing for a short time.

A Brief Change at Home After the hat incident, Mr. Wormwood becomes less boastful and overbearing for a short time. Limits The improvement does not last, and new cruelty soon returns. Consequence Matilda learns that retaliation can create breathing room but cannot reform her parents.

Pranks as Self-Protection Pranks as Self-Protection from "Matilda". Wit Against Power Matilda plans pranks in response to repeated insults, book-destruction, and unfair accusations.

Pranks as Self-Protection from "Matilda". Wit Against Power Matilda plans pranks in response to repeated insults, book-destruction, and unfair accusations.

Wit Against Power Matilda plans pranks in response to repeated insults, book-destruction, and unfair accusations. Unequal Contest As a small child, she cannot meet adult force directly. Consequence Inventiveness gives her a limited means to defend her dignity and preserve her sense of control.

The morning after the car-dealing argument

After Mr. Wormwood destroys her book

The morning after the false arithmetic accusation

The days following the glued-hat prank

Before Matilda enters school