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craxyguy562 · 03-10-2014 06:48 AM

If you were to really analize the book "Matilda" by Roald Dahl you will notice all Matilds does is read a bunch of books and take care of herself. That does not make her a genius, there are other ways to gain knowledge, books aren't the only way to get smarter. So really, Matilda is just a girl with really good memory nothing more. She's bascally school's image of a genius. The school thinks a genius is someone who reads a lot, is really good at math, history, science, etc.

Not once do they mention creativity, is creativity not part of being smart?

brainiac3397 · 03-10-2014 06:51 AM

The question is whether that memory is just memory or knowledge utilized?

We all have to memorize. But knowledge is learning what we memorize, understanding it beyond it's representation as data, symbols and dates. To learn is to memorize in the process of understanding.

I memorized the date of Pearl Harbor, but I'm also knowledgeable because I studied the event...far beyond simply just keeping the date the in mind. Saying "I know about Pearl Harbor" goes beyond just knowing the date, thus it's not just a memorization.

KFC Nyan Cat · 03-10-2014 10:37 AM

Matilda's fucking stupid. Even I noticed that back when I liked school.

craxyguy562 · 03-10-2014 10:45 AM

(03-10-2014 10:37 AM)kfcnyancat Wrote: Matilda's fucking stupid. Even I noticed that back when I liked school.

How is Matilda stupid? What did she do to make her stupid?

James Comey · 03-10-2014 12:08 PM

I never was a fan of Matilda to be honest.

craxyguy562 · 03-10-2014 12:13 PM

Me too, I always envied how easily everything came to her. She seems like a mary-sue.

craxyguy562 · 03-10-2014 12:28 PM

The way she conquered her obstacles too easily also made me jelly. None

James Comey · 03-10-2014 12:43 PM

Eh, sorry to all you Matilda fans, but watching Matilda always bored me. Ah, the days without cable.

Alistoriv · 03-11-2014 05:04 AM

It's not a great story but the person that played her in the movie is really cool irl. She has a blog but I can't remember what it's called :/

Symbol · 03-11-2014 06:33 AM

Oh yeah, the one who gave up acting in movies because it didn't a allow her to be creative enough, so she started doing plays and writing. I remember reading her blog sometime.

xcriteria · 03-11-2014 07:16 AM

Good question, crazyguy. It's a common rule of thumb to show, not just tell, about a character. Just saying a character is a genius, without justifying it, doesn't make for a convincing story.

(03-10-2014 12:13 PM)crazyguy562 Wrote: Me too, I always envied how easily everything came to her. She seems like a mary-sue.

The TV Tropes article on Mary Sue is interesting. It seems that term is used in many ways to describe characters people don't particularly like, even though I understand what you mean.

Which sub-type(s) of Mary Sue listed there, or in the longer list of Mary Sue Tropes, come to mind for Matilda?

Trar · 03-13-2014 07:54 PM

From what I remember of the book, it was decentish. Never saw the film. I thought The Witches was better.

I definitely agree with 'show don't tell', having been involved in a writing community that believes this strongly (SCP is FUN). I can't remember much of the book right now, but Matilda was perceptive, could take care of herself and loved reading. And found out a way to stood up to that piece of shit Trunchbull. She's smart in my book, even if I wouldn't exactly call her a genius.

tootsie_turtle · 04-11-2014 01:25 PM

Saw the musical, read the book a LOOOONG time ago. Thought she was smart as hell. She could do any equation in like 3 seconds. It's kind of suspicious.. How everything comes to her. We should make a fucking movie out of this. Show how at a young age, the doctor implanted a highly-intelligent computer into her brain that allowed her to do equations, solve problems, read high level books. Then in her teenage years it totally attacks her body and controls her and later convinces her to kill Ms. Honey. She finds Ms.Trenchbull, befriends her, Ms.Trenchbull becomes her spy. Then together they take over the world and battle spiderman, and spiderman loses for once in his GODDAMN LIFE. Then Harry potter comes in on his flying broom and saves the day by creating a forcefield, which reveals to muggles Wizards do exist, but people don't care and are grateful they're alive, but after that Matilda's incredible power awakens Voldemort and they use their evilness to create a long, terrible war. Hundreds of years later, Society begins to form and those with those computers implanted in their brains, like Matilda did, are DIVERGENT. In fear of having society fall apart again from the Divergents, they seperate society into five factions and kill of any divergents. Then Divergent happens. Yeah, I'm crazy.
SORRY GUYS I GOT CARRIED AWAY... Rofl

brainiac3397 · 04-11-2014 01:57 PM

She'd most likely end up trying to take over the world. It's one thing most humans have in common. Many just ignore the thought of doing it though, or fear to take the necessary steps towards it. It also manifests itself somewhat differently.

Nonetheless we all wanna be God in some way.

James Comey · 04-11-2014 02:19 PM

And brainiac would, of course, have to challenge Matilda in an epic battle, and it ends in a stalemate, causing another Cold War.

brainiac3397 · 04-12-2014 09:28 AM

Pfft. Id have prepared her defeat the moment we began hostilities.

I play chess dawg.

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