How Does Dahl Use Names of Characters in Matilda to Portray Their Personality - Essay Example

How does Dahl use first and s of characters to portray their personality? Choose 3 characters and trace the s and characters relationships. Analysis of "Matilda", 750-1000 words, 3-4 pages. All the charasters that Dahl portrays represent exaggerations of the roles they perform. However, the way that Dahl does this does not annoy the reader, but subtly refers to the characteristics and personal traits, which they embody. The main characters’ names enhance their nature and add to the genuine personalities the author describes. It seems that Dahl attempted to send a message both to the kids and adults making the characters believable with their equally suitable names to match their inner world and aspirations. The characters names match their personality to make it easier for children to follow the storyline and how characters evolve. The connection between Matilda and the other personages in the book represent the bond that the little girl forms with the rest of the characters. Let me start with the analysis of the main character – Matilda. The name Matilda or “Mathilda” originates from Teutonic and means “battle”, “strength” or “might”. It is easy to understand why Dahl chose this name for his heroine. The story is based on the injustice put on Matilda and the obstacles she has to overcome during her journey to happiness. Matilda’s story is a classic juxtaposition of the forces of good and evil. That is why Dahl decided to imply the goodness in the characters entitling them with certain names to be differentiated. Matilda has a supernatural power. With her abilities she is able to deprive the evil characters from their power and to allocate it on those, who are good willed. Dahl uses Matilda’s supernatural power to make the book believable, because children want to believe that there exists a potent power that can make their hopes and fantasies come true. Matilda is a little girl, who possesses a genius, psychic powers. And Dahl takes those to extremes to make the book more interesting and engaging. Matilda’s psychic powers turn the story into a battle between good and evil. The evil characters in the book are embodied by Matilda’s parents Wormwood and the school principal Miss Trunchbull. Rather than telling their child that she shouldn’t watch TV, and do more reading, they act on exactly the opposite way. On the contrary Matilda’s parents have no interest in her and treat her in very disturbing manner. Matilda’s father is a car salesman and her mum is a bingo-player. Whenever possible the little Matilda plays jokes on them and ridicules their dishonesty and postures. Matildas parents are neglectful. What a better family name for them than The “Wormwood”. The worm is the lowest of the insect organisms and it is a creature that parasites on others. Mr. Wormwood makes a very good profit with his second hand car company cheating customers. He puts sawdust in the transmission or rolls back the mileage. Matilda tries to teach him a lesson by putting glue into his hat, and making his to cut his hair. Then she adds a colouring into the oil he puts into his hair and he has the most outrageous hair colour. Mrs. Wormwood defines her family success on the grounds of “looks” and focuses on “appearing” happy rather than the unique, genuine family values like creating a parental bond and keeping the family together. Mrs. Wormwood didn’t even include Matilda when talking about “her” family. Evil Miss Trunchbull exhibits her cruelness through throwing children around. Matilda is introduced to her, because her father sells a car to Miss Trunchbull. Although The Wormwood are not interested in the value of education and learning, they arrange between Miss Trunchbull (who has bought a car from Mr Wormwood) to attend her private school. The school is dominated by the Miss Trunchbull’s tyranny. The bull as an animal represents the power which the principal holds. Miss Trunchbull is exactly that “bull” symbol, keeping everything in order and embodying the spirit of evilness. The way Matilda and her schoolmates describe her indicates how scared they are from her. Miss Trunchbull is an abusive principal and if she has been depicted in a milder way, she would not have had such an influence in the plot. The violence that she exercises is as much physical as it is psychological. She doesn’t like children: “I don’t like small people. I can’t for the life of me understand why take so long to grow up. I think they do it on purpose.” Miss Honey, as guessed by her name is the “sweet” teacher, who is absolutely impressed by Matilda’s intellectual capacity. Miss Honey is very polite and kind to Matilda and trusts her about her abilities. Miss Honey turns to be abused by her aunt Miss Trunchbull and Matilda tries to help her see the school as less frightening. Miss Honey is a good-natured young lady, who sees the intellectual potency of Matilda and attempts to convince her parents of the goodness of education. But to no avail. One of the themes of the book that brings Miss Honey and Matilda together is “child abundance” and “child neglect”. Both of them were ignored by their parents/relatives and they seek a better place for their inner happiness. That is why the ending seems like a retribution for all the characters. Another name in the novel that can be interpreted and analyzed is that of Eric Ink. Miss Trunchball said to him: “You may be Ink, young man, but let me tell you something: you are not indelible”. This is one of the many quotes showing how repulsed Miss Trunchball is by children and that she wants to punish them all the time and get rid of them. “My idea of a perfect school is one that has no children in it at all. One of these days, I will start up a school like that. I think it will be very successful”. Dahl expresses the idea how important education is and that “looks” over “books” is a state of mind rather than physical appearance. Matilda’s enthusiasm for reading is encouraged and the young character is thirsty to learn and read new things. Children have to be taught to acquire their own autonomous pace in life and if they do not find support and approval by their parents seek it in their teachers. Dahl’s portrayal of all the characters is admirable in its true nature and realistic characters. A bit exaggerated in order to fit the extraordinary children’s imagination. References: 1. Dahl, Roald. Matilda. Puffin, 1998. Read More