The dangerous transphobia of Roald Dahl’s “Matilda”￾ – Salon.com – Interesting. I think the author might be reaching a little bit though. It leaves out the fact that Matilda’s mother (Mrs. Wormwood) literally advocates for a very traditional image of femininity, that of being dumb and hot in order to get a husband. This is also an image that Matilda rejects. So while the Trunchbull’s portrayal is problematic, I don’t think the book is as black and white as the essay makes out.