Matilda, from a very young age, has been extremely smart. She learned to read and speak at a stage in which most, if not, all of kids her age wouldn't even be able to walk. She's petty when she's angry, but is so in a way that no one can find out. Her parents neglected every sign of her being a genius, though, so her talent wasn't developed much until she finally went out of the house, alone, and to a library. There she read many books, widened the range of her vocabulary and learnt many things about the world. She was fascinated by them, so much that she came by whenever she could. Matilda takes revenge secretly, so nobody would expect it was her.

Matilda's parents, Mr. and Ms.Wormwood. If I have ever seen neglectful parents, then it has to be them. They're conceited, eccentric, selfish and think they're complete, utter geniuses who will change the world. Especially Mr.Wormwood. He prides himself in his talent at scamming people and brushes it off in the mention of work and nothing more. He takes to teaching their son about his work, but never Matilda, though it's probably good that she didn't learn anything from him. Ms.Wormwood is more of a spender, one who likes money and nothing more. She goes to play bingo in towns more then eight miles away, and just follows her husband's actions in uselessly scolding their brilliant daughter. They're too neglectful for their own good, perhaps they'd be sitting in the limelight had they developed Matilda's talent.

The principal is someone who absolutely despises children and thinks they should be eradicated. From most of the readers' points of view, she's the worst out of all of them. If I have to go by the start of the book, she has creative insults, though.