MATILDA YA’LL.
First impressions of Matilda
We pick up on her life when she is thirteen years old- so her voice is young.
That she is inquisitive, especially about Mr. Watts.
She belongs to the community of villagers. This is shown through her narration
telling us about the villagers’ opinions of Mr. Watts.
The novel’s narrator who lives with her mother in the small, isolated Bougainville
community.
She is very similar to Dolores – they are both strong characters bent on the truth –
they have normal teenage girl-mother conflicts as she seeks to establish her
independence.
Relationship with others
She develops a very close bond with the fictional ‘Pip’ because she
draws parallels between his life and hers
 Strained relationship with mother; questions her
beliefs on religion, Mr. Watts, but is still loyal to her
mother.
 Forms a close relationship with Mr. Watts. Her
closeness with Mr. Watts is inversely proportional
with her mother’s. Cw
Beliefs
Matilda is positioned between her mother who rejects the ‘white world’ and her
absent father who is very much part of that world
Has conflicting views of her father- he is sometimes depicted by Matilda as a
good man who has left Bougainville for the family’s benefit, yet Matilda believes
at time he is a deserter and neglectful of what he has left behind.
 Complex family trees and abstract ideas about God and the devil
hold (from her mum) little interest for Matilda.
 Ideas about good and evil are fleshed out by the characters in Great
Expectations and the situations they face, and these, more than the
teachings of the Bible which Matilda’s mother quotes to her, inform
the moral choices which Matilda makes.
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Matilda’s resentment towards her mother stems much from
her hiding ‘Great Expectations’ and causing the village to be
destroyed. Matilda resents her, “not only for what our
neighbours had lost, but for the blame placed on Mr Watts
door.”
Strengths and Flaws
 Sensitive
 Highly intelligent
 Precocious (contributes to cynical thoughts of her
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mother).
Highly observant
Wise to the subtle innuendos of adult behaviour
Open to new ideas
Able to be herself
Obsessive at times, stubborn.
Detached of her own world– infatuated with Pip.
Status/job
 Child of Dolores
 Student of Mr Pip
 Great Expectations enthusiast.
Changing impressions of Matilda
 Thoughts become more intelligible.
 Initially, we think of her as a child, but our respect
for her increases as we learn of the adversities she
must overcome.
 Our appreciation of her narration is consistent.
Profound stuff..
Throughout the novel, Mr. Watts and Dolores are engaged in a conflict of values and beliefs whilst
Matilda is centred in the crossfire. These adult figureheads in Matilda’s life are keen to enlighten
Matilda with their knowledge, but Mr. Watts’ western ideas clash with Dolores’ religion and
culture. As much as Dolores preaches to her daughter that she must stay grounded, practical, and
devote herself to be a servant of God, these teachings have become monotonous to Matilda.
Instead, she gravitates towards Mr. Watts and Great Expectations where she discovers a refuge
from the horrors of the civil war in Bougainville and a friend in Pip whose voice she relates to. As
Matilda become engrossed in Great Expectations, it also sparks a friendship with Mr. Watts as
Matilda shares his innate appreciation for the book. Unfortunately, Dolores does not understand
the appeal of Great Expectations and disapproves of this infatuation with Pip and even attempts to
hinder Matilda’s progressive relationship with Mr. Watts by hiding the book. However, Dolores’
brash acts are rooted in the context of her own life where the Westerner took over Bougainville and
stole her husband. Now Dolores associates Mr. Pip and the “bible” he preaches as an harbinger for
her own abandonment and the imminent breakdown of her life as she feels Matilda is becoming
enticed into the Western World and could l. Matilda is aware that, “What made her blood run cold
was this white boy Pip and his place in my life. For this she will hold Mr. Watts personally
responsible.” Consequently, when Matilda discovers that Dolores hid the book, she grows more
distant as she feels Dolores’ oppressive grip crushing her sentiments and gets closer with Mr.
Watts. Although Dolores’ bitterness and insecurities arise from her endearing love for her
daughter, they do not resonate with Matilda as it obstructs her means of coping with their chaotic
reality. By doing so, Dolores’ feelings contribute to the upheaval in her relationship with Matilda,
coaxing Matilda to find a confidante in Mr. Watts.