Who Are The Main Characters In Mathilda?

Matilda Wormwood’s my favorite tiny bookworm! She’s surrounded by these wild personalities—her dad’s a slimy used-car salesman, her mom’s glued to bingo, and her brother’s just kinda there. But the real standout is Miss Trunchbull. That woman’s like a nightmare version of a gym teacher, chucking kids around like shot puts. Miss Honey’s the opposite, all gentle and encouraging. The way Matilda bonds with her feels so genuine, like finding your first real mentor. The characters are simple but packed with personality, which is classic Dahl.

Reading 'Matilda' as a kid, I adored how distinct every character felt. Matilda’s this precocious five-year-old who devours Dickens and develops psychic abilities—how cool is that? Her parents are grotesquely funny, especially her dad’s ridiculous hair and his constant scams. Miss Trunchbull’s pure terror, but in a way that makes you giggle because she’s so over-the-top (choking kids with cake? Seriously?). Miss Honey’s the quiet hero, though. Her backstory’s unexpectedly dark, and her kindness toward Matilda makes their relationship the emotional core. Even smaller characters like Lavender add flavor—remember the newt-in-the-jug prank? The book’s full of these vivid, slightly twisted personalities that stick with you.

Roald Dahl's 'Matilda' has such a vibrant cast! The titular character, Matilda Wormwood, is this brilliant little girl with a love for books and telekinetic powers—she’s the heart of the story. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, are hilariously awful, obsessed with TV and money, totally dismissive of their daughter’s genius. Then there’s Miss Honey, the sweetest teacher who recognizes Matilda’s potential and becomes her ally. And who could forget the terrifying Miss Trunchbull, the headmistress who’s basically a cartoon villain come to life?

What makes these characters so memorable is how starkly they contrast—Matilda’s innocence against the Wormwoods’ neglect, Miss Honey’s kindness against Trunchbull’s cruelty. Dahl’s exaggerated style makes them feel larger than life, especially Trunchbull with her hammer-throwing antics. I love how Matilda’s quiet resilience shines through, though. She’s not just smart; she’s brave, using her wits (and later her powers) to stand up to injustice. It’s why the book still resonates—it’s a celebration of kids outsmarting the grown-ups who underestimate them.

Matilda’s cast is a perfect mix of heart and humor. You’ve got the Wormwoods, who are so obliviously bad at parenting it’s almost artistic. Matilda herself is a dream protagonist—bookish, clever, and secretly powerful. Miss Trunchbull’s the kind of villain you love to hate, while Miss Honey’s warmth balances the chaos. It’s the interplay between them that makes the story sing, especially Matilda’s small victories against the adults who dismiss her.