Matilda’s Encounters with Miss Trunchbull
Miss Trunchbull’s Cruelty at School and Home
The Office
Office: When she gets to the office, Miss Trunchbull doesn’t pay attention to Miss Honey’s observations. Instead, she just says that Matilda is a very bad child. Miss Honey leaves the office feeling a bit disappointed, but she decides that Matilda needs to learn more advanced things. So, she gives her some books from higher-level courses.
Matilda’s Home
Home: She wanted to explain to Matilda’s parents that their daughter was too clever for her age. Miss Honey felt disappointed when she arrived at Matilda’s house: her father refused to let her enter because he was busy watching television! She tried to explain that Matilda was exceptionally intelligent for her age, but her parents showed no interest and ignored her.
The Classroom
Class: When the teacher arrived inside the class, all the students were quiet. She found a boy named Cyril with dirty hands and made him stand against the wall. She also shouted at a boy because he didn’t know an answer. She did the same with another boy. In addition, she pulled his ears when he couldn’t spell. Then it was Matilda’s turn, but Miss Trunchbull didn’t yell at her. Instead, she yelled at her father for sending a bad car.
Miss Trunchbull’s Horrific Punishments
The Chokey
Chokey: The Chokey is a horrible punishment device used by Miss Trunchbull. It is a small, dark, and narrow cupboard with sharp nails sticking out of the walls. When a student is sent to the Chokey, they are forced to stand inside. One time, she poured syrup on the chair the Trunchbull was going to sit on at prayers. When Miss Trunchbull stood up after sitting on the syrup-covered chair, she became stuck to it because of the syrup. Another day she sprinkled skin-scorcher inside all the knickers of Strunchbull. A few days later, during prayers, Miss Trunchbull started scratching a lot.
The Pigtails Incident
Pigtails: She walks towards a girl with long pigtails and orders her to cut them. Then, Miss Trunchbull did something incredible. She caught the girl by her pigtails, spun her around, and threw her across the playground. Hortensia explained that Miss Trunchbull used to be a professional hammer-throwing champion, which explains her strength.
Matilda’s Friends and Her Powers
Lavender’s Prank
Lavender: She is a friend of Matilda. She’s small for her age. One day Miss Honey explained to the students that Miss Strunchbull would be coming to class the next day. She said the principal needed a jug of water on the table. Lavender was in charge of putting this jar and inside she put a newt from her garden. When the principal saw the animal, screamed and immediately blamed Matilda. Matilda said that she wasn’t the responsible.
Matilda’s Superpower
Superpower: When Miss Strunchbull saw the newt, she said that Matilda was culpable. The girl got angry because she hadn’t been. She wished the glass would fall and break. She concentrated hard, focusing all her energy, and suddenly the glass fell. Miss Strunchbull was shocked and confused, not understanding how it had happened. After class, Matilda told Miss Honey what had happened. The teacher was shocked.
The Headmistress
Miss Trunchbull is the headmistress of the school. She is a very strict and cruel woman who treats the children badly. She punishes them in terrible ways, like making them stand against the wall or pulling their ears.
The Chocolate Cake Incident
Cake: Miss Trunchbull called Bruce and began talking about a chocolate cake he had supposedly stolen from the kitchen. Miss Trunchbull called the cook, who brought an enormous chocolate cake. She ordered Bruce to eat the entire cake, hoping he would get sick. But that didn’t happen. Bruce ate it all, and Miss Trunchbull threw the plate on the boy’s head.