With frightening suddenness he now began ripping the pages out of the book in handfuls and throwing them in the waste-paper basket. Matilda froze in horror. The father kept going. There seemed little doubt that the man felt some kind of jealousy. How dare she, he seemed to be saying with each rip of a page, how dare she enjoy reading books when he couldn't? How dare she?
In Roald Dahl's "Matilda," a dramatic scene unfolds where Matilda's father becomes increasingly agitated and starts tearing pages from her beloved book. This outburst is shocking to Matilda, who watches in horror as he destroys the pages with aggression. The father's actions reflect a deep-seated jealousy toward Matilda for her love of reading, something he is unable to enjoy himself.
His furious ripping of the pages signifies not only his disdain for Matilda's interests but also his frustration with his own limitations. It showcases a larger theme of the story—an exploration of how ignorance and jealousy can lead to destructive behavior, particularly from those who feel threatened by the talents and passions of others.