Breaking the (Autistic) Code: Matilda (1996)

Disclaimer: I am not a licensed medical professional and this series is not about diagnosing the character(s) with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This series is just a personal examination of the film/TV show's plot, the character's traits and personality and how they relate to me as an Autistic woman. Whether this character is canonically Autistic or not is irrelevant. This series has come about after Sia's controversial film Music was released and the backlash that has ensued before, during and after the release of the film. I am not the only Autistic individual that is discussing this topic, nor will I be the last. I would encourage my readers to seek out different perspectives on disability representation especially from BIPOC disabled creators who are often ignored in the disability discourse. I will also try to avoid giving away any spoilers for those who have not seen the film/TV show but if I have to give context for my arguments, this will be a likely occurrence so please be forewarned.

With recent discussions surrounding disability representation in the media, one would assume that disabled people were silent on the topic until now. The truth is, that representation and stigma around disabled people has been the main sticking point for disabled activists especially in mainstream media. Unfortunately, mainstream media does not seem to be interested in hearing the perspectives of disabled activists unless it is conforming their own biases surrounding said disability. With disabled people portrayed as either objects of pity, inspiration porn, or horrifying unpredictable monsters that will attack anyone without warning, it is paramount that society begins to understand disabled people and their multifaceted lives. One of the ways that disability, and in this case, Autism Spectrum Disorder, will be understood, is through media analysis and criticism.

You may be wondering how anyone, including myself, can come to that conclusion about a character who is not canonically Autistic. With the stigma surrounding Autism, it can be understandable that many neurotypicals (Individuals with “normal” development) will not immediately realize why Autistic people will relate to these characters. Autism is often portrayed as a disorder that infantilizes the individual, who happens to typically be a white straight male, rendering them incapable of taking care of themselves, making their own decisions, or else having a well-informed thought or opinion about anything. My readers need to understand that Autism is more than what is seen in films like Rainman or TV shows like Big Bang Theory. It is a complex and misunderstood condition where the individuals with this condition can suffer terribly due to this stigma and misunderstanding.

Matilda, originally a book by Roald Dahl published in 1988, was released theatrically in 1996 by Sony Pictures and was directed by Danny Devito, who also plays her slimy father, Harry Wormwood. The film was not commercially successful upon release with only making $33.5 million at the box office compared the film's $36 million budget. Despite this, the film still won over audiences to become a cult classic among fans who identified with Matilda and her struggle for acceptance. There have been theories floating around on the internet that Matilda's telekinesis may be an unintentional metaphor of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

I have had to ask a few people about the film, as I was born in 1992 and my family did not have the film in their home. This movie was released a year before my family realized that I may have a disability and before I received my Autism diagnosis at 5 years old. I can imagine that if I saw this film for the first time, that some of the images and plot might disturb me as a small child. I would also not understand the symbolism and nuances in the plot as I would have been four and "severely Autistic" at the time the film was released.* Looking at the film 25 years after its release, and as a Real Adult made me realize that countless other films and books had Autistic characters without realizing it or even truly understanding Autism.

Since watching the film as an adult, I have noticed that Matilda has several Autistic traits that I have observed in myself and other Autistics. Throughout the entire film, we see Matilda reading books that are considered past her age level with reading becoming her special interest. Books become a way of escaping her difficult home life, which ultimately gives her family more ammunition to emotionally and psychologically abuse her. This is a common trait for Neurodivergent people in their early years, called Hyperlexia, a condition characterized by reading books at an advanced level but having delayed communication skills. This is one of the first signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder that often goes unnoticed due to the assumed “lack of intelligence" of Autistics.

Her speech also has a noticeable flat affect which is consistent when Autistics are not masking their speech for the Neurotypicals. Matilda communicates with others in a direct and honest way unlike her peers. She often tells her family that what her father does (sells used vehicles at a much higher price than what is allowed) is not only morally wrong but illegal. Many Autistics tend to feel uncomfortable when rules are not being followed to the letter. Matilda often points out the obvious to the adults in her life, despite their denial. An example of this is the running joke that Matilda points out that the men waiting outside the Wormwood home are actually private investigators and not "speed boat salesmen" like her parents claim.

Her family also constantly doubts her abilities and intelligence as she is often compared to her older brother who is considered the "normal" kid to the Wormwoods. Obviously, this results in her being treated differently from her family and is the recipient of their abuse. Even the way that she presents herself to others, like the way she chooses to dress herself, is not considered "normal" to outside observers. Matilda follows a strict routine and never strays from it until she goes to her new school, where she excels in both literature and math. This impresses her teacher, Ms. Honey, who approaches her family and states that Matilda should skip some grades.

The Wormwoods consider her special interests in reading and math to be "not normal" and constantly try to force her to be like them. In one scene, Harry forcefully takes away Matilda's book and plops her down in front of the television, Matilda becomes immediately upset as her special interest was snatched away from her and is forced to participate with her family. As the scene continues, it becomes clear that she is uncomfortable and overwhelmed with all the stimuli from the television. She becomes agitated and unknowingly destroys the television with her powers. This is where Matilda begins to realize her telekinetic abilities and this sets the plot into motion as her telekinesis is where Matilda gains the confidence to assert her humanity as a girl. The telepathy in the film could be a metaphor for Autism because Autistic people often gain their strengths and skills through their Autism and how it individually affects them. Through their strengths, Autistic people can gain confidence in being able to move about in the world and often have careers that focus on their strengths or special interests. Autistic people do become upset when their special interest is hidden or taken away from them because those special interests are a comfort for them in an unforgiving world; to take that away from them for selfish purposes would only lead to the Autistic person having a meltdown or suffer worse mental health as a result.

In a contradictory sense, Matilda is also often the one expected to do all the housework and other duties in the home while her family zones out in front of the TV. The narrator in the film also notes that she was "born different" from the Wormwoods and was made to mature faster then the rest of the Wormwoods. Matilda's relationship to her family is what is often what went on in my household when I was growing up. I was expected to be the "mature" one when my siblings could not perform any of the responsibilities in the household due to various circumstances. This is a phenomenon among most families with Autistic family members as they believe that their family member should be made to either mature faster in order to exceed society's expectations of Autistic people or stay in a permanent child-like state of being.

Miss Trunchbull, Matilda’s principal, is also another abusive adult who inflicts physical and emotional violence on all the students, including Matilda. The whole hierarchal structure of Matilda's school is an unstable, nonsensical tyranny where Trunchbull can abuse her power over those in a lower position of authority, Ms. Jennifer Honey included. I have had a fair share of abusive authority figures during my childhood, my mother’s ex-partner being one of them. He was verbally and emotionally abusive toward me and other family members and also inappropriate and made others uncomfortable. He was also horrifically xenophobic and sexist toward me and my siblings. The children at this school never stand up to Trunchbull, until the end of the film, because they have been conditioned to accept abusive behavior from authority figures. Much like how Autistic people are punished for being their natural selves in a neurotypical environment and eventually become "obedient" and "less Autistic" as a means of survival. It is only until Trunchbull is in a powerless state, much like the children, that the children are empowered to assert their autonomy over the abusive adult.

The school does not allow Matilda, or the other children, to exercise their autonomy or to even succeed at their own pace. This is of course a common trope in almost all child and teen movies where the school is an oppressive institution where individuality and creative thinking is discouraged. The film takes that trope to another level by not only having oppressive rules and standards but also applying methods of torture to any student who refuses to conform. The "choky" is a tiny room where the children are forced to stay in for a certain period of time as a punishment for "breaking the rules." The room has large metal spikes on the door, and hot steam on the other side. These types of rooms would be a sensory nightmare for anyone especially an Autistic child who may have sensory sensitivities. Autistic children are often forced into rooms of isolation as "punishment" for having a meltdown or behaving in their natural state. I was often put into these rooms as punishment for my meltdowns or whenever I stood up for myself against the people who bullied me. These rooms did not get to the root of my meltdowns or the bullying I endured during my childhood. Instead, these punishments made me more of an outcast to my peers.

Autistic people are also known for their low tolerance for injustices or oppressive social structures. They are also often very supportive of the underdog or those who have suffered in the same way as them. Despite her being constantly mistreated by others, she is still empathetic towards them and is willing to stand up to abusers even at the risk of her own safety. This is apparent in Matilda's actions when she sets out to help Ms. Honey in getting back her possessions from Ms. Trunchbull. Matilda has no sense of danger or consequences when she goes into Trunchbull's house and eventually gets Ms. Honey's doll back as well as the house at the end of the film. Her plan of attack on Ms. Trunchbull is well-thought out and detailed. Matilda knew where and how to attack Trunchbull physically, psychologically, and emotionally after she discovers Trunchbull's connection to Ms. Honey and her father, Magnus. She, like other Autistics, are willing to risk their safety as a means of completing a goal. I was often mocked and ridiculed by my peers for my pro-human rights beliefs and the only adult who seemed to be supportive of them, was my high school English literature teacher. She was my main support when I had no one else who I could rely on.

In the iconic and uncomfortable chocolate cake scene, Matilda and her fellow peers cheer on Bogtrotter after it is discovered that he ate Ms. Trunchbull's chocolate cake and he is forced to eat a larger amount of cake as punishment for the discretion. This scene is considered memorable by fans for many reasons, one of them is the cruelty of Trunchbull and how she punishes Bogtrotter by overwhelming him with his favorite foods. The other reason is that Matilda was able to see the wrong in Trunchbull's action and instead of being a silent bystander, she rallies her peers to support Bogtrotter. Autistic people will often be strong supporters of causes that they feel best support everyone they relate to in their lives and will also go against the crowd even if it means that they will be mocked, ridiculed, or punished for their actions. Matilda also defends her father from the private investigators when they have found evidence of her father's illegal activities because she believes that Harry is still able to see the wrong in his actions. Among most Autistic people is a willingness to help others even when that help is not often appreciated nor will that Autistic person understand why the person reacted negatively to their help. Neurotypicals will call this belief in the goodness of humanity to be naïve and pathologize it instead of striving for this goal.

In conclusion, Matilda tells the story of an undiagnosed Autistic girl's journey to finding her empowerment, figuratively and literally, through her own means. Matilda shows the importance of standing up to abusers and advocating for yourself and community. She finds a community who will encourage her to grow her talents and not force her into conforming with society's norms. I also had a group of supportive people who were able to help me in accomplishing my goals. These supports also helped me in becoming more confident in myself as an Autistic adult and being more comfortable with my neurology, and how to advocate for myself. I saw myself in Matilda and understand why the neurodivergent children who saw the film when it was released strongly related to Matilda as well. Like Matilda, I was also an avid reader who decided that my analytical skills can be best used for projects such as this series.

*I will probably write an article about how useless functioning/severity labels are at a later date.

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