Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical summary

Summary

In Matilda the Musical, Matilda is a gifted young girl whose parents neglect her. As she navigates school, she encounters the tyrannical headmistress Miss Trunchbull, who rules with fear. Matilda befriends Miss Honey, a kind teacher, and discovers her own telekinetic powers. As the story unfolds, Matilda uses her abilities to stand up to injustice, culminating in a dramatic showdown where she helps free her classmates and exposes Miss Trunchbull's cruel ways. In the end, Matilda is adopted by Miss Honey, and the school is transformed into a happy, supportive place.

Takeaways

• 👶 Mrs. Wormwood is devastated when she finds out she's pregnant, as she does not want a child.
• 📚 Despite her parents' disapproval, Matilda grows into a sweet girl who loves reading and visits the library every day.
• 🏫 Matilda is recommended to attend Crunchem Hall by Miss Honey and an inspector after they discover she hasn't been properly educated.
• 💇 Matilda blackmails her father into turning his hair green as revenge after he makes a false accusation against her.
• 🎩 Matilda bonds with a new friend, Lavender, at school and learns about the fearsome headmistress Miss Trunchbull.
• 📖 Matilda tells Mrs. Phelps a story about an escapologist and an acrobat, which mirrors her own experiences.
• 🍫 Bruce is forced to eat an entire chocolate cake by Miss Trunchbull as punishment, but succeeds and is still sent to the chokey.
• 🔮 Matilda discovers her telekinetic powers and uses them to prank Miss Trunchbull, especially after the newt incident.
• 🏡 Matilda learns that the escapologist and acrobat from her story are actually Miss Honey's parents, with Miss Trunchbull being the cruel stepsister.
• 👩‍👧 Miss Honey adopts Matilda after her parents flee to Spain, and the school is renamed 'The Big Friendly School' with Miss Honey as head teacher.

Q & A

What is Mrs. Wormwood's reaction to finding out she is pregnant?

Mrs. Wormwood is devastated when she finds out she is pregnant and in labor, which contrasts with how most parents feel when welcoming a new baby.

How does Matilda's passion for reading impact her life?

Matilda's love for reading helps her develop into a sweet and intelligent young girl, despite her parents' disapproval. She visits the librarian every day and enjoys solving challenging math problems in school.

Why do Miss Jennifer Honey and an inspector recommend Matilda attend Crunchem Hall?

Miss Jennifer Honey and the inspector recommend that Matilda attend Crunchem Hall after discovering that she has not been properly educated at home.

How does Matilda use her intelligence to retaliate against her father?

Matilda blackmails her father into turning his hair green as retribution after he falsely accuses her of wrongdoing. Later, she adheres his cap to his head with glue after he destroys one of her library books.

What is Miss Trunchbull's response to Bruce eating the entire chocolate cake?

Despite promising to pardon Bruce if he succeeds in eating the entire cake, Miss Trunchbull is enraged by his success and sends him to the Chokey as punishment.

What story does Matilda share with Mrs. Phelps on the way to school?

Matilda tells Mrs. Phelps the tale of an escapologist who marries an acrobat. The acrobat suffers injuries from a risky stunt and dies shortly after giving birth, leading the escapologist to confront her stepsister.

What revelation does Matilda have during her visit to Miss Honey's cottage?

Matilda discovers that the escapologist and acrobat from her story are actually Miss Honey's parents, and that the cruel stepsister is Miss Trunchbull. This revelation confirms that her tale is based on real events.

How does Matilda use her telekinetic powers to confront Miss Trunchbull?

Matilda uses her telekinetic powers to pretend to be the vengeful ghost of Miss Honey's father, Magnus Honey. She uses these powers to destroy Miss Trunchbull's trophies and throw her out of the school.

What happens to Miss Trunchbull after Matilda's confrontation?

After Matilda's confrontation, Miss Honey gives the keys to her father's house back to Miss Trunchbull and instructs her never to return. The children then destroy Trunchbull's monument and celebrate their liberation.

How does Matilda's story conclude, and what is the final outcome for her and Miss Honey?

Matilda's story concludes with her parents agreeing to let her stay with Miss Honey instead of fleeing to Spain. Miss Honey adopts Matilda, who uses her powers to remove the glue from her father's hat. The children rename the school 'The Big Friendly School,' with Miss Honey as the new head teacher.