Matilda Archetype Essay
Emily Loving
A2
Archetypes in Matilda
The movie, Matilda, is the story of a dark family comedy. Matilda takes on the role of an exaggerated version of a realistic childhood; in which adults are grumpy and mean for no reason, parents and teachers don’t understand them, and children actually have more to offer than what adults see in them. The plot centers on Matilda, a neglected adolescent possessing supernatural powers. The story, thus, turns into a classical drama where good and evil fight each other with the warring forces clearly represented. Matilda is comprised of archetypal imagery that revolves around the various characters of the movie. However, the hero is the predominant archetype. Devil figures test the young hero’s abilities, and without the guidance of an earth mother figure, the journey proves difficult and the task unachievable. The blending of the various archetypes throughout the film, help define Matilda as the hero. Matilda Wormwood fits the definition of a perfect hero; she is also the character that the audience is most likely to identify with. Like the classical archetype, Matilda’s circumstances are unusual: two parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, who wanted nothing to do with Matilda or her needs, adopted her at her birth. Throughout her early childhood, Matilda is left at home alone and is able to teach herself how to read books like Ivanhoe and Moby Dick by the age of six. When Matilda tells her parents that she is old enough to go to school, Mr. Wormwood replies, “Nonsense! Who would sign for the packages?” The movie signifies her as a susceptible, yet an invincible hero. The film centers on Matilda’s path to freedom and the challenges she faces in the process. Matilda’s initiation involves the learning and mastering of her supernatural telekinesis powers in order to provide her with the ability to complete her task. Upon Matilda’s enrollment, a new devil figure is introduced, Mrs. Trunchbull, who represents the power of evil. Mrs.
A2
Archetypes in Matilda
The movie, Matilda, is the story of a dark family comedy. Matilda takes on the role of an exaggerated version of a realistic childhood; in which adults are grumpy and mean for no reason, parents and teachers don’t understand them, and children actually have more to offer than what adults see in them. The plot centers on Matilda, a neglected adolescent possessing supernatural powers. The story, thus, turns into a classical drama where good and evil fight each other with the warring forces clearly represented. Matilda is comprised of archetypal imagery that revolves around the various characters of the movie. However, the hero is the predominant archetype. Devil figures test the young hero’s abilities, and without the guidance of an earth mother figure, the journey proves difficult and the task unachievable. The blending of the various archetypes throughout the film, help define Matilda as the hero. Matilda Wormwood fits the definition of a perfect hero; she is also the character that the audience is most likely to identify with. Like the classical archetype, Matilda’s circumstances are unusual: two parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, who wanted nothing to do with Matilda or her needs, adopted her at her birth. Throughout her early childhood, Matilda is left at home alone and is able to teach herself how to read books like Ivanhoe and Moby Dick by the age of six. When Matilda tells her parents that she is old enough to go to school, Mr. Wormwood replies, “Nonsense! Who would sign for the packages?” The movie signifies her as a susceptible, yet an invincible hero. The film centers on Matilda’s path to freedom and the challenges she faces in the process. Matilda’s initiation involves the learning and mastering of her supernatural telekinesis powers in order to provide her with the ability to complete her task. Upon Matilda’s enrollment, a new devil figure is introduced, Mrs. Trunchbull, who represents the power of evil. Mrs.