Point of View

For the majority of the novel, the author uses a third-person and omniscient point of view to tell the story. The narrator focuses mainly on Matilda and her thoughts and feelings, but frequently includes the perspective of other characters as well. This is effective in the characterization of Matilda as we can understand her motivations and ideas, but we can also gain insight about what she is like by other characters' perceptions of her. We know that Mrs. Phelps and Miss Honey, for example, are impressed and amazed by this young girl's abilities, which allows us to know just how exceptional she is without Matilda herself even knowing it.

The exception to the third-person and omniscient point of view is found in the first chapter. Here, the narrator uses the first person, giving his personal perspective on the topic of children. For example, the narrator says...