The Cake and Newt

They both symbolize how much the children and adults are terrified by and of Miss Trunchbull
and seek to make her fail. The cake that Bruce ate
and the newt Lavender put in Miss Trunchbull's
water glass were their small successes in taking her
down. "'Trunchbull doesn't believe it either,' Matilda whispered. 'Look at her. She's turning redder and
redder. She's going to kill him if her wins.'"