When Roald Dahl introduced the world to Matilda, he gave us more than just a children’s story. He created an icon of resilience, brilliance, and rebellion. The little girl with extraordinary intelligence and telekinetic powers not only defeated bullies but also inspired generations of young readers.
Yet Dahl ended the tale when Matilda was only seven. The question remains: what would her life look like if the story continued into adulthood?
The Comfort of Books, The Burden of Expectations
For children who grew up reading Matilda, her love for books was instantly relatable. Many young readers, too, preferred the quiet of a library over the noise of a playground. While Matilda sneaked Dickens and Hemingway under the covers, her admirers devoured Enid Blyton, Meg Cabot, or Dahl himself.
But the joy of endless reading often met a harsh interruption. As school years advanced, storybooks were replaced by exam guides, competitive rankings, and pressure to achieve. The comfort of imagination gave way to the burden of expectation. Like Matilda, many gifted children grew up too fast, left unprepared for the complexity of adult life.
Beyond Dahl’s Happy Ending
On the surface, Matilda’s ending is hopeful. Her cruel parents vanish from her life, she finds a loving guardian in Miss Honey, and the monstrous Trunchbull is finally defeated. For a children’s book, this resolution is perfect.
But in reality, trauma doesn’t vanish with villains. A child abandoned by her own parents would carry deep emotional scars. Being humiliated at school or living in fear leaves long shadows. Readers who revisit the novel as adults cannot help but wonder: did Matilda ever truly feel safe again?
The Hidden Scars of a Gifted Child
Gifted children often grow up praised for performance but overlooked in emotional growth. They learn to excel but rarely to rest. They adapt to applause but struggle with intimacy. Matilda’s childhood mirrors this pattern—brilliance on the surface, wounds underneath.
An adult Matilda would likely wrestle with trust, belonging, and identity. Even her relationship with Miss Honey could be complicated, as both carried unspoken traumas from childhood. What Dahl left unaddressed is the long process of healing that follows survival.
Therapy as Triumph
If Matilda were alive today, she might not be showing off magic tricks—she might be in therapy. And perhaps that is her real triumph. Healing is not about erasing the past but about learning to live with it.
This version of Matilda resonates with countless readers who grew up seeing themselves in her. Burnout, loneliness, fear of closeness—these struggles feel familiar. Her adulthood is not defined by perfection, but by the courage to face the past and still move forward.
Why Readers Still See Themselves in Matilda
The timelessness of Matilda lies in the way readers project their own stories onto her. A neglected child may see themselves in her rejection by the Wormwoods. Someone who lost a parent may connect with Miss Honey’s quiet resilience. Others may recognize the way ambition often overshadows personal happiness.
Dahl’s book ends with victory, but real life shows us that endings are beginnings in disguise. Each reader continues Matilda’s story in their own way, finding echoes of her in their struggles and survival.
Writing New Chapters
The real question isn’t what Dahl intended for Matilda—it’s what we imagine for her now. In adulthood, her journey would not be about defeating villains but about building a world where she belongs. The unwritten chapters are filled with therapy, self-discovery, and the courage to write a life shaped not by scars but by resilience.
And that’s why Matilda endures. She reminds us that brilliance is only part of the story. The greater victory is survival, healing, and the choice to keep turning the page.
