What is the story Matilda about?

Answer 1

The story of Matilda is about an unusual little girl with extraordinary intellectual talents. She is stuck in a family that neither recognises nor appreciates her talents, and she is left to fend for herself. Her father, Mr Wormwood owns a second-hand car garage and cheats people while her mother, Mrs Wormwood is at the bingo all day. She also has a rather obnoxious brother.

Matilda teaches herself to read and to do mental calculations far in advance of other children her age. She spends her day sitting in the town library, reading anything she can get her hands on. She is desperate to go to school, and is finally sent to a school run by a tyrant of a headmistress, who devises all sorts of tortures and punishments for children who misbehave (and also for those who do not).

Although the headmistress is a terrible person, Matilda adores her teacher, Miss Honey, who quickly recognises Matilda's extraordinary abilities. Miss Honey is very poor, living in a tiny cottage. Through a series of events, Matilda also discovers she has more than just intellectual powers - she is able to move objects with her mind. Through this ability, she is able to help Miss Honey to get back property improperly taken from her by the school's headmistress when Miss Honey's father (brother to the headmistress) died. Matilda eventually gets to live with her teacher rather than her family.

It's a very enjoyable children's fantasy.