Roald Dahl begins the first chapter by talking about parents. Most parents will brag about their children no matter what they do, even if the child himself is not necessarily worthy of praise. However, there are also parents who do the opposite—they show little interest in their children. This is the case with Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, who look upon their daughter Matilda as "nothing more than a scab," even though they dote on their elder son, Michael.
