Matilda’s Mysterious Powers: Origin & Abilities Revealed

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In its depiction of Matilda, the story exhibits enchantment as it revolves around a brilliant child endowed with mysterious abilities. However, the specifics regarding the source and extent of these powers remain unspecified. Roald Dahl’s Matilda is renowned as one of the finest children’s books ever penned, having sold more than 17 million copies worldwide. This literary masterpiece has also inspired two major films, now recognized as some of the best adaptations of Roald Dahl’s works. The narrative unfolds around Matilda Wormwood, a resourceful, bibliophile child who faces neglect and mistreatment at home and school. Eventually, she uncovers powers that permit her to counteract the oppressive figures in her life.

Initially, Roald Dahl’s beloved book “Matilda” might have taken a darker turn. In its early stages, Dahl portrayed Matilda as a mischievous and manipulative child who exploited her parents’ kindness and used her psychic abilities to aid an unscrupulous teacher in fixing horse races (as reported by the Oakland Press). However, it was his editor who encouraged Dahl to significantly revise the narrative, resulting in the heartwarming tale we know today. The nature of Matilda’s magical powers is certainly intriguing and worth exploring.

What Matilda’s Supernatural Powers Are

Matilda Has Psychic Powers

In the 1996 film Matilda, as well as in the book and musical adaptations, Matilda’s primary ability is telekinesis. This power initially manifests when she gets furious over Miss Trunchbull’s unfair governance, using her thoughts to tip over a glass containing a newt. As the story unfolds, her powers become more potent. She refines her skills by practicing with her father’s cigar, and soon she can destroy their television, lift a room full of items, and even write with chalk telekinetically.

In the book version of Matilda, her abilities are more focused on specific objects she’s concentrating on and aren’t significantly influenced by her emotional state. In contrast, the 1996 film portrays Matilda as having fewer limitations when demonstrating her powers, even outside of anger-fueled situations. The musical adaptation introduces an additional element to Matilda’s psychic abilities: she can delve into Miss Honey’s memories. One tale Matilda shares about an acrobat and escapologist unexpectedly reveals the truth behind Miss Honey’s parentage, but it remains uncertain whether Matilda can do this with all individuals or if there’s a special bond between them.

Matilda’s Genius Intellect Seemingly Gave Her Magical Powers

Her Brain Was Under-Stimulated Due To No School And Watching TV

In the story, it’s not explicitly detailed how or why Matilda suddenly developed her abilities. However, Miss Honey, a character from the original novel, suggests that Matilda’s extraordinary intelligence, which is evident at a very young age, might have been triggered because her intellect was underutilized due to her subpar education and home environment focused on television. This unused mental capacity could have then manifested as psychic energy.

Why Matilda Loses Her Powers In The Book

Her Powers Begin To Fade Towards The End

In Roald Dahl’s original novel, unlike the movie or musical adaptation, Matilda eventually loses her extraordinary abilities. According to Miss Honey’s hypothesis, these powers stem from Matilda’s intellectually under-stimulated mind. As she moves up to Year 6 and faces more academic challenges, it’s plausible that her powers would gradually weaken due to the increased mental stimulation. However, in the 1996 movie, while Matilda uses her powers less frequently, there’s no scene suggesting they disappear, even when she employed them to combat injustice and protect herself.

In both the book and the stage production of Matilda the Musical, Matilda uses her powers less frequently compared to the 1996 film. One potential reason for this discrepancy could be that the original adaptation chose not to diminish Matilda’s powers in order to align with the popular superhero fantasy.

As a film enthusiast, I find it bothersome when American films portray a character as a superhero from the get-go, but that’s not the case with this girl. She’s not simply a magical child; her abilities don’t manifest until she encounters Miss Trunchbull, who becomes an oppressive figure at her school, constantly altering the rules. The real magic unfolds when she experiences immense rage and the need to protect those dear to her. It’s frustrating to see this crucial aspect of the character being oversimplified or overlooked.

Theories About Matilda’s Powers

She Could Have Been An Experiment

Initially, young Matilda’s abilities are triggered during intense emotional situations, especially when she feels anger or injustice. Her powers first emerge during Miss Trunchbull’s speech about her supposed unchallenged authority. It appears that Matilda’s powers, born out of her neglected and abused state, react to her feeling powerless. However, as the story progresses, she no longer needs her powers since she is no longer afraid of either her parents or Miss Trunchbull.

One plausible explanation for how Matilda acquired her powers could be through genetics, considering that Harry might not truly be her biological father and the person Zinnia was unfaithful with may have passed his powers onto her. A widely discussed theory also suggests that Matilda underwent government experimentation before being adopted by the Wormwoods. In any case, theories surrounding Matilda frequently give off a more ominous vibe.

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2025-04-19 18:07