Comparison assessment beetween Miss Trunchbull and Mrs Honey

Comparison English Assessment
In ‘Matilda’ the director clearly shows the contrast between Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey. Even though they share the same job occupation their characteristics contrast entirely. For example the behaviour of the two teachers is unalike. The director uses a range of techniques to convey this.
Roald Dahl chooses the teachers name specifically to reflect that character. This sets up an expectation, to the audience, of the character’s role and personality in the film. Miss Trunchbull’s name can be dispersed into two words. ‘Trunch’ can be associated with the word ‘Truncheon’. A violent, harmful, dominant weapon as a result the audience may interpret her as a violent person and sets up an expectation of her character.
‘Bull’ is an animal that behaves aggressively. It loses its temper easily and is very strong and dominant. This reflects on Miss Trunchbull’s character and leaves the audience a source to judge upon what role she plays in the film. However this is not the case with Miss Honey. The connotations associated with her name are totally opposite to that of Miss Trunchbull. ‘Honey’ is a sweet substance and is taken as a treat; therefore her name has connotations of sweet and delightful. Others may interpret her as a pushover. Normally you relate kind, sweet people as pushovers because they don’t have the confidence to stand up for themselves
The actor that plays Miss Honey clearly displays Miss Honey’s behaviour, so that it contrasts to the Behaviour of Miss Trunchbull. Miss Honey’s behaviour is nervous and timid and is conveyed in her acting. It is conveyed by her fumbling her fingers and staring at the floor. When Miss Honey walks into Miss Trunchbull’s office her body language is discrete. She looks at the floor and fumbles her fingers indicating that she is uncomfortable and doesn’t feel welcome. The audience observe that she is the less dominant because of her displayed body language. Others may interpret her body language as scared and afraid of Miss Trunchbull. Miss Honey’s head down may indicate that she is trying to hide from Miss Trunchbull and feels intimidated by her.
Unlike Miss Honey, Miss Trunchbull’s behaviour is intimidating and mean. It is shown through many key ways such as her gait, posture and speech. When Miss Honey comes to speak to her on behalf of Matilda, her posture is a critical way that she shows the audience that this is her territory. She rolled back shoulders and straight masculine arms with shut legs shows that she is confident. In comparison with Miss Honey there is a big difference. Straight arms compared to fumbling fingers shows a clear contrast in their confident.
Miss Trunchbull’s speech is a key conductor of her mean, intimidating behaviour.