The Water Glass

The water glass symbolizes Matilda's mental
powers. It is the first thing able to control with
her mind. Matilda realizes how extraordinary her knowledge is and uses it to help her succeed.
"She kept her eyes steadily on the glass, and now the
power was concentrating itself in one small part of each
eye and growing stronger and stronger and it felt as
though millions of tiny little invisible arms with hands
on them were shooting out of her eyes towards the glass
she was staring at."