Some moms become legends. Others earn side-eyes across generations. Classic literature has no shortage of mothers who control, neglect, compete, or simply check out. These women come from books many of us read in school, yet their choices land very differently now. Status chasers, overbearing forces, emotional ghosts, you will spot a little of everything here, and not in a comforting way. If you think you remember these stories, wait until you revisit the parenting. Keep scrolling, it only gets worse from here.
#1: Mrs. Wormwood – Matilda (1988)
In Matilda, published in 1988, Roald Dahl created one of his most successful children’s novels, later adapted into a film and stage musical. Mrs. Wormwood spends her days glued to television and heading out to bingo, brushing off her daughter’s advanced reading skills as a nuisance. She pushes quick fixes and dismisses education altogether. Her mother’s indifference sets the stage for Matilda’s independence and makes Miss Honey’s kindness stand out even more.
