” Though finally it creates a tragic situation , Matilda is a humorous poem. ” Do you agree? Prove your answer giving examples from the poem.
Matilda is a humorous poem written by Hillarie Belloc. It is a parable that gives the idea that we should not tell lies. At last in the poem, the main character Matilda dies. But as it is not a true story but a parable we can’t say this is a tragic poem And in this poem, there are so many incidents that create humor such as the London Noble Fire Brigade’s actions , Matilda’ s lies & Matilda’s aunt’s punishment. So I agree with the statement that Matilda is a humorous poem.
First, Matilda was an orphan girl who lived with her aunt. Her aunt was a very strict person. She is a truthful person and she always advised Matilda to keep that also. Though she advised this much, Matilda used to tell lies.
” Matilda told such dreadful lies,
It made one gasp and stretch one’s eyes ”
This creates humour to the reader. One day when Matilda was tired of playing and she thought to tell a big lie. So she tiptoed to the telephone. The word tiptoe makes visual imageries how she went to the telephone. And she called to the London Noble Fire Brigade and told there was a fire in her house. Then the Fire Brigade started to come there. They passed so many towns and told the people that there is a fire in Matilda’s house. This Fire Brigade’s actions also create humour to the reader.
” Within an hour the gallant band
Were pouring in on every hand
From Putney, Hackney, Downs and Bow
With courage high and hearts a – glow ”
And also the poet mentioned that they came after an hour. It is very humourous because if there were really a fire the whole property would burnt down within an hour. So this also creates humour. And after they came , without searching or asking anything they poured water everywhere. Because of that many valuable pictures of her aunt were destroyed. And the next incident which creates humour is that Matilda’s aunt had to pay to the Fire Brigade to go away.
” And even then she had to pay
To get the men to go away ! ”
And after few weeks Matilda’s aunt went to see a play without taking Matilda. Because she thought it would be a punishment to Matilda for telling lies. This creates humour because this punishment is not suitable for telling lies. And she should have told that telling lies is not good & advise her not to do so again. So the poet critically creates sarcasm about the punishment that had given by Matilda’s aunt. So it creates humour to the reader.
” A deprivation just and wise
To punish her for telling lies ”
And for the amazement, that night really a fire did break out Matilda shouted yelling for help but nobody came to help her as they thought she was telling a lie again.
” For every time she shouted ‘ Fire ‘
They only answered ‘ Little Liar! ‘ ”
This also creates humour because Matilda got her punishment for telling lies. Anybody didn’t trust her. So she had to pay from her life. If this is shown as a tragic moment I don’t really think it is a tragic situation. Because this is not a true story and I think poet wants to create sarcasm by telling she died.
Like this, there are so many situations that create humour and sarcasm in the poem. So I don’t think this poem has a tragic end. It has given a spiritual lesson at the end. So I agree with the statement that though finally it creates a tragic situation, Matilda is a humorous poem.