Matilda: Chapter 21 Summary & Analysis

Before long, everyone knows about the Trunchbull’s fainting episode—and that she marched out of the school once she recovered. The following morning, the Trunchbull doesn’t show up. When the Deputy Head, Mr. Trilby, phones to check on her, nobody answers. He visits her after school—but nobody is in the brick Georgian house in the woods. Mr. Trilby realizes the Trunchbull up and left and goes to inform the School Governors.

The following morning, Miss Honey receives a letter from local lawyers saying that they’ve found her father’s will. The house belongs to her, along with her father’s lifetime savings. She should contact them as fast as possible to take ownership of the property and the money. Within a few weeks, Miss Honey is living in her family home. Matilda visits her teacher every afternoon after school, and soon they’re great friends. At Crunchem Hall Academy, Mr. Trilby replaces Miss Trunchbull as Head Teacher. Soon after, Matilda moves into the top form. 

A few weeks later, when Matilda is having tea with Miss Honey, she reveals that her power seems to be gone. Miss Honey says she’s not surprised. She wonders if Matilda’s power stemmed from being so frustrated—and that energy eventually bubbled over and manifested as Matilda’s ability to move objects. Now, though, Matilda is in the top form and is challenged in school, so her brain is busy. Matilda says that, in any case, she’s relieved—she didn’t want to be a miracle worker. Miss Honey thanks Matilda again for all she did for her.

Matilda adores these evenings with Miss Honey. They speak like equals, and she feels safe and loved. Matilda shares with Miss Honey that a mouse’s heart beats 650 times every second. A hedgehog is slower, at 300 beats per minute. Miss Honey thinks to herself that she loves how interested Matilda is in everything. They talk for another hour and then Matilda sets out to walk home. It’s a short walk and when she arrives, there’s a new black Mercedes parked outside. This isn’t unusual; Mr. Wormwood often has odd cars parked outside.

Inside, though, is mayhem: Mr. Wormwood and Mrs. Wormwood are stuffing as much as they can into suitcases. Mr. Wormwood tells Matilda to pack; they’re leaving for Spain. Matilda doesn’t want to go, since she loves her school, but her father tells her to hurry up. He also says that they’re not coming back.

Rather than pack, Matilda runs all the way to Miss Honey’s house. Miss Honey is pruning her roses and comes out to meet Matilda. Matilda cries that her parents are moving the family to Spain forever. Miss Honey says she’s not surprised—Mr. Wormwood is “in with a bunch of crooks” and is probably selling stolen cars. He’d often change the license plates and repaint stolen cars. He’s probably been planning this move for years, just in case.

Matilda shouts that she doesn’t want to go with her parents. She wants to live here, with Miss Honey. Miss Honey says that Matilda has to go with her parents—though she acknowledges that if they agreed to let Matilda stay, that would be okay. Matilda notes that her parents don’t care about her anyway, so they might agree. She grabs Miss Honey’s hand and leads her back to her house at a run.

Now, Mr. Wormwood and Mrs. Wormwood are filling the Mercedes with their suitcases. Matilda stops and asks her parents if she can stay with Miss Honey. Mr. Wormwood barely acknowledges this, and Miss Honey promises to care for Matilda—but only if her parents agree. Mrs. Wormwood suggests it’d mean one less thing to look after, so Mr. Wormwood agrees. Matilda leaps into Miss Honey’s arms and they watch the Wormwoods leave. Michael waves at Matilda out the window, but Mr. Wormwood and Mrs. Wormwood don’t look back.