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sleepy82louih · 2 years

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Let's Talk About Matilda

I was just listening to Harry's house on YouTube, and after a month, a question struck me.

Why 'Matilda'?

I mean, it is a girl's name, yes. But, this is Harry. Why specifically Matilda? Who is Matilda?

Interestingly enough, I found her.

(Warning! There are mentions of child abuse, emotional and physical abuse and other sensitive topics ahead.)

Matilda is a name that has a Germanic form, 'Mahthildis'. Mahthildis is derived from Old High German words 'Maht' and 'Hild'. It means 'might, strength, battle' and/or 'battle-mighty'.

But that's not all. While I was originally looking for the meaning of the name, I stumbled across an interesting little piece of info.

'Matilda' is the name of a book written by Roald Dahl, which is the main character's first name as well.

Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short-story writer, poet, screenwriter (and also a pilot). He has written several children's books, which has granted him the title of "one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century". He's won several awards for his works, as well. He has had a knack for writing children's books with rather adult, dark themes.

Exhibit A? Matilda.

Part I: 'Matilda', A Summary

(Note: Only read this part if you don't know the story to Roald Dahl's 'Matilda')

In Roald Dahl's 'Matilda', Matilda is a girl born to Mr and Mrs Wormwood. Now, ever since early childhood, Matilda has proven to be a genius. And, by early childhood, I mean one year-old. And by genius, I mean learning to read by age three and half. By the time Matilda is four and three months old, she has read every children book in the library (which she would walk all alone from home to, and read her books there, since her father refused to buy her books because they had a 'twelve-inch telly') and has moved on to books like Jane Eyre.

However, Matilda's genius is lost on her parents. Her parents emotionally abuse her, and generally ignore her. For example, when she learns to speak at the age of one, they tell her that she's noisy and little girls should be seen and not heard.

Her father has a job as a car dealer, and her mother would go and play bingo five afternoons a week at a town eight miles away from home. Her older brother, Michael (a pretty ordinary kid) would leave for a school. Most days, four year-old Matilda is completely alone by the afternoon (which she cherishes by going to the library).

Matilda's parent's behaviour even surprises the librarian, seeing as the child comes alone and leaves alone. Although she never addresses it, since she's learned that meddling with parents' business doesn't end well. (this woman is the epitome of 'not giving you what you need but lend you a free escape') Matilda, with all her four year-old genius and brilliance, admits to knowing that, frankly, her parents do not care much about her, or about what she does. She is a scab; Her parents tolerate her up until the moment they can get rid of her and throw her away.

The books that she reads, however, take Matilda far and beyond, to places she's never seen. They introduce her to the most amazing people.

“She travelled all over the world while sitting in her little room in an English village.”

‘You can see the world, following the seasons, anywhere you go, you don't need a reason, cause they never showed you love...’

Now to Matilda's family. Mr Wormwood sells second-hand cars. Read: Her father is a scammer who adds sawdust to the oil in the gearbox and the poor buyer won't realise it until they get several miles away, when the car ultimately crashes down again. When Matilda tells her that what he does is disgusting, her mother tells her to keep her nasty mouth shut.

(Funny coincidence, Matilda's father's name is Harry.)

In short, four and something year-old Matilda hates her parents. She knows it's wrong, but she still does, because they're shortsighted, narrow-minded, stupid people who know nothing but the television and cheating people, and have never read a book in their life.

(The irony is that Mr Wormwood preaches about family gatherings and how important they are. Someone needs to tell this man that his definition of family has several reality issues. Heck, even his wife doesn't like him much.)

The story then goes on about Matilda finding ways to rid herself of the frustration she feels inside of her, by pulling pranks on her parents every time they act beastly towards her. Like, for example, glueing his father's hat to his head, or scaring her parents with a parrot in the chimney, or bleaching his father's hair.

Matilda then goes to school, meeting Miss Jennifer Honey. Now, Miss Honey notices her intellectual abilities (such as, say, making a limerick about Miss Honey since she's met her that morning, alongside reading a limerick and multiplying fourteen by nineteen), and tries to move Matilda to a higher class.

However, the school has a terrifying, tyrannical headmistress, named Miss Trunchbull and what a last name that is. She is, in short, a headmistress who enjoys abusing her higher power. She clearly mentions how she wishes it was old days and she could use a belt on students as punishment, she apparently has a cupboard named The Chokey that has bits of glass and nails sticking from the walls, she punishes a girl for wearing pigtails and does a hammer throw with her across the playground (yes she throws the child), and punishes a boy for eating her cake by making him eat an 18 inch wide one (and smashing the platter over his head when he succeeds).

Miss Honey then tries to talk to Matilda's parents, but they ignore her, with her mother saying that a girl should focus on looks and get married to a successful man, instead of being brainy, and then attempts to humiliate Miss Honey on her looks. As expected, Miss Honey leaves the house.

Afterwards, it is revealed that Matilda has the power of telekinesis, and that Miss Honey is actually Trunchbull's niece, and has been under her abusive care since her father, Dr Magnus Honey had died. Trunchbull has Miss Honey's salary going to her own bank account and giving Miss Honey £1 per week. Knowing this, Matilda uses her telekinesis to terrify Trunchbull by using a chalk on the board and pretending to be Magnus Honey's ghost, demanding his daughter's money to be returned;

“Give my Jenny her wages, give my Jenny the house, then get out of here. If you don't, I will come and get you. I will come and get you like you got me. I am watching you Agatha.”

(Oh yeah, sure Roald, let's casually mention how Trunchbull is a murder suspect in a children's book, that's normal)

Trunchbull faints, and by the next day, she's left the house in a haste, and is never heard of again. Mr Honey's will appears out of seemingly nowhere, rightfully giving Miss Honey the house and her father's savings.

With Miss Honey's property given back to her, and with the deputy headmaster taking Trunchbull's place, Matilda is moved to a higher class, to sit with eleven year-olds. She loses her telekinesis power, and Miss Honey tells her that it's probably because she's using her brain power on other things now.

Matilda keeps visiting Miss Honey regularly, as they've grown quite close. One day, when she comes back home, though, she sees that her parents and her brother are packing to move to Spain. When she wonders why this is happening, Miss Honey explains that it's because it was figured out that Mr Wormwood is a scammer.

Matilda then asks her parents to give her permission to stay and move in with Miss Honey. They agree rather distractedly, as her mother states that 'it's one less mouth to feed'. And as Miss Honey and Matilda find happy endings, Wormwoods vanish from young Matilda's life.

Part II: The Message Behind 'Matilda'

'Matilda' is a story that, despite being written for a young audience, contains very heavy and dark themes. 'Matilda' very clearly speaks of emotional and physical abuse, tyranny, misogyny, scamming, attachment theory, dictatorship, and, most obvious of all, child abuse.

'Matilda' also draws a very clear picture of how the main character, Matilda, is a very misunderstood child by her parents, whom, in addition of not caring for her, simply do not understand her and are incapable of keeping up with her intellectual prowess, to the point of outright denying the fact that she is a genius.

On an almost parallel line, we have Miss Honey (Jenny, rings a bell?). She is much like Matilda. Despite having parents that we may assume would've been caring if they had lived longer, Jenny has lost them both by the age of five, the same age that Matilda is now. She's lived under her abusive aunt's care, and Jenny blatantly mentions that her aunt used to beat her. We're not so unfamiliar with that particular idea in the story, as Trunchbull did voice her obvious regret about how she cannot beat the students until they couldn't sit like she used to do in the past.

When Jenny finally escapes to her small cottage by a farm, she's past the age of eighteen. She hasn't attended university, as she was forced to do all the housework since the age of ten, and simply has her job, which grants her almost zero salary, because she attended Teachers' Collage.

Back to Matilda. She, as a five year-old with the brain of an adult, very clearly is aware that her parents care so very little for her. She mentions the fact that her parents would not worry about her, or care if she's not there, multiple times throughout the story. She speaks very coolly about it; She's accepted the fact that her parents simply do not love her. And that is shown very clearly in the story; Mr and Mrs Wormwood do not love their daughter. Not only that, but they seem to hate her to a certain extent.

The story also points multiple times towards misogyny. Mr Wormwood has a tendency to interact with her son about his job, while completely dismissing Matilda, especially in that particular subject, simply because she is a girl. He is so against the idea of a woman having the upper hand, that he accuses Matilda of cheating when the girl sums up a few numbers fairly quickly in her mind, while her older brother clearly struggles with simply keeping up to writing down the said numbers on paper.

While Matilda is quickly told to shut up whenever she's proven to be smarter than her parents, or outspoken, other children receive the same treatment in school by Trunchbull. If a child is daring enough to simply state the simple fact that Trunchbull had been a child herself, they'd be punished. Trunchbull is, in short, the epitome of people in high power who abuse it in any way they can; Dictatorship.

There's also the slight case of the attachment theory. In short, attachment theory means that every child needs to form a relationship with at least one primary caregiver in order to develop emotionally and socially. Matilda lacks that primary caregiver until the age of five, until she meets Miss Honey. The impact of Miss Honey's warmth, care and understanding on Matilda is so great that the girl trusts her teacher with her deepest secrets (revealing her telekinesis power to her) and, by the end of the story, her attachment to Miss Honey wins over her attachment to her parents, and she begins living with her.

All in all, Matilda is, despite being a children book, a very heavy read, especially if you notice the signs.

Part III: Harry and Matilda

Let's talk about how Harry's song connects to this all.

In 'Matilda', Harry speaks very clearly of similar situations. He speaks to a girl (although it could be anyone, I'm just using the female pronouns for easier writing) about her life situation; How her parents, or family, never showed her love, and how she might feel sorry for leaving, growing up, and becoming independent. He expresses that, while none of this is his business, he's been simply thinking about it. He tells her that she can start a family that will love her, will care for her, and there's nothing to be sorry for.

He mentions that, this is, apparently, no big deal. At least, to her. None of what happened seemed to be wrong to her until a certain point at time. Harry's Matilda speaks of her experiences like it's nothing, but it isn't. Yet, Matilda is strong, she's mighty like her namesake; She bright and lively and she can light up even the darkest days.

While Roald Dahl's Matilda seems to have a liking for adventure, Harry's Matilda also may have the same interests; Harry does urge her to travel the world and see it all. It's a beautiful parallel, in my opinion. Roald Dahl's Matilda never moves further than her little village, she even refuses to go to Spain with her parents, and yet, she's travelled the world more than anyone can imagine within the four walls of her small bedroom, with her books.

Harry tells Matilda that it's alright, if she wants to let go. He tells her that it's okay to feel pain. He tells her that there's nothing wrong with growing up. He tells her that she doesn't have to go home. He tells her that he knows time won't change her mind, because it won't change the fact that her family don't love her. So the only option there is, is letting it all go.

It's almost heartbreaking. We know that, Roald Dahl's Matilda is too smart, almost an adult in a child's body. But we never get to know if Matilda, despite her adventures and her brilliant brain, needed comfort. Matilda never cries in the story, she adamantly refuses to cry. She never shows weakness. She's too smart for all that. The only time she shows sadness about her parnts not caring for her is when she's four and talking to the librarian.

When you switch from Harry talking to any person, to him talking to a five year-old, it makes it all the more emotional. In a sense, it is that way. When we look back at our childhood, while witnessing our memories with our matured minds, the emotions woven withing those memories remain to be ones of a small child. 'Matilda' is, perhaps, not addressed to our matured minds, but to the small kids living within the hall of memories upon memories in those very minds. Maybe Harry is talking to a child, upon a delicate, almost sadly playful melody of strings.

Part IV: Conclusion

Matilda is, without question, a heartbreaking song.

Not only because of the way it's been written and produced, but because of the way we connect to it. Many of us feel Matilda deep in our bones. 'Matilda' goes from being misunderstood to being outright unloved. Harry draws parallels between his and Roald Dahl's Matilda very delicately.

It's also no surprise that Harry has, once again, drawn inspiration from a children's book (or dark literature, for that matter). He also did this with Adore You music video, using a children's book to form a story that many of us connected with. Harry goes from writing about a peculiar child with a bright smile, to talking about a genius girl with a brilliant mind. Many of Harry's characters that he uses as inspiration stand out from people around them. Perhaps because Harry understands those characters on a deep level. Perhaps because Harry himself stands out as well.

Perhaps it's bitterly hilarious to see how children seem to understand things that many adults simply ignore. Perhaps Harry sees himself as one of them. Perhaps, somewhere in Harry's colourful mind, he's still running around, wearing a peculiar suit, with peculiar children, throwing pieces of cake. Perhaps he stands next to Matilda, as the girl grins wide, her smile bright, her mind sharp, and lets it all go, as they wreck havoc without ever saying sorry.

Because there's nothing to be sorry for.

-Clair, an emotional mess right now

#harry styles #hs3 #harry's house #harry styles hs3 #harry's house lyric analysis #lyric analysis #matilda #honestly this man makes me feel so seen and heard #the way he connects with children is subtle in his art yet also very much there #he seems to think the same as children do #'rules are dumb let's break them all'#oh what I wouldn't give to introduce this man to Tistou of the green thumbs #he's probably already read it but still

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avatar-anna · 2 months

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Moments caught between Harry and Y/n on camera at the Brits

just something fun because harry at the brits was a mess but we love him for it!

Young Dad! Harry Styles x Young Mom! Reader Masterlist

The red carpet is loud and raucous, bright lights flashing as people shout for the attention of celebrities. One couple in particular is the center of attention the second they step on the carpet.

Harry Styles and a woman walk arm-in-arm, a broad grin on his face and a shy smile on hers. Harry seems to be whispering something in the woman's ear, his nose pressed against the crown of her head. It makes her visibly relax, her grin widening and becoming more authentic as they take a couple more steps.

The woman is the recently revealed Y/n Styles, Harry Styles' long-time partner that he'd somehow kept from the rest of the world for over a decade. But she was here tonight, just as she had been at the Grammys a couple weeks ago, and the cameras now track their every move, intrigued by this new-ish couple.

"Harry! Harry! Harry, over here!"

"Y/n!"

"Harry, did you really marry Y/n when you were in One Direction?"

"Y/n, how does it feel to be with the most famous man in music?"

Y/n, who's hard to miss in a red dress that fits like a glove, shrinks almost imperceptibly against Harry's side. Harry looks down at her, and the husband and wife share a look as if they're having an unspoken conversation.

Then he mutters something to her, and Y/n laughs as Harry kisses her cheek, but not before nudging his nose against it. The shouts double, so used to Harry's stoic approach to being out in the public eye, but both of them move steadily down the carpet, not paying the paparazzi and reporters any mind.

*.*

During their walk down the red carpet, Harry and Y/n come across a barricaded section for fans of the artists in attendance. They all cheer as each celebrity walks by, shouting compliments and proclamations of love for their favorite.

Y/n once again hesitates on Harry's arm, wary eyes darting toward the boisterous fans. At the same time, Harry is called to by a reporter asking for an interview. Checking in with his wife, he departs with a kiss to her forehead, murmuring words the cameras can't quite pick up.

Y/n stands on her own, one arm crossed over her stomach as she tries to stay standing tall. Fans call out to her from the barricade in a way that's difficult to ignore. She waves at them with a small smile, but it's clear they want her to come closer.

With one glance at her husband, who's still speaking with the reporter, and another to a security guard close by, she nods to the latter and they step closer to the barricade, just close enough in proximity that she can actually make out distinct voices and words.

"Y/n we love you!"

"Where did you meet Harry?"

"How long have you been together?"

"Ugh, you are so mother in that dress!"

"What's your skincare routine?"

"What's Harry's?"

The tense set of her shoulders eases a bit, no longer apprehensive of the fans and their potential to be cruel.

"I feel like I met him a lifetime ago," she says. "And I just cleanse, moisturize, and use SPF."

"How come we've never seen you at shows?"

"What's your favorite Harry song?"

"Are you friends with One Direction?"

"Where were you last year when Harry got wasted?"

Y/n chuckles at the last question, her eyes lighting up as her hand covers her mouth. "I've always had a soft spot for 'Ever Since New York.'"

"Taste!" a fan yells, decibels louder above the rest, which garners laughter from everyone.

"Can you make Harry release 'Medicine?'" another asks.

Before Y/n answers, Harry appears by her side, an arm snaking around her waist. "There you are. Got sidetracked by your own interview, did you?"

"They were just asking if I'd help them in their quest for a studio version of 'Medicine.' I'm not sure if I can, though. They don't know how stubborn you are."

A chorus of boos went up at Y/n's answer, but not at her. Harry raised his eyebrows at his wife as if in challenge, but her responding gaze is quite mischievous.

Taking everyone, including Y/n, by surprise, he leans in to kiss her cheek, saying, "Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight, darling?"

A chorus of aww's ring through the small crowd of fans as Harry places his hand on Y/n's lower back, ushering her away from the barricade. Y/n raises an eyebrow at her husband, who is conveniently not meeting her eye. "Nice save."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You never call me darling."

Harry lets out a snort. "Lies. Lies on the red carpet tonight."

Y/n rolls her eyes but leans in close to her husband, carefully avoiding the fabric flower around his neck. "Mhmm. Let's go, darling."

*.*

An artist is being interviewed inside the O2, and Harry and Y/n are videotaped in the background.

In the very corner, the couple are leaning in close and talking, a drink in each one of their hands. Harry talks animatedly, gesturing with his drink to the point where it nearly spills on Y/n's dress. Y/n doesn't seem to mind and just throws back her head as she laughs. His eyes light up as he watches her, a word that could only be described as love encompassing his face.

*.*

During one of the performances, a camera pans to Harry's table. The house lights are dim, but he's still visible amongst the flashes of color from the stage. Harry sits in his chair, body slumped a little low so he can rest his head on Y/n's shoulder.

Both of their attention is on the performer onstage, not noticing as a few cameras are pointed in their direction as Y/n scratches the back of Harry's neck absentmindedly. He leans into her touch, looking up occasionally to say something to his wife.

*.*

"And the winner is...Harry Styles!"

Cheers erupted throughout the room, the table Harry is at standing up. Harry himself stays seated and curls in on himself, pumping his arms victoriously as he beams. His eyes are a little glassy, his hair unkempt, a sign that the night has progressed with lots of alcohol consumption.

He turns to his sister Gemma first as he stands up, high-fiving her before giving her a hug and fist-bumping someone else. Then he turns to Y/n, who hasn't stopped clapping since his name had been read for the third time from the envelope.

She opens her arms as if to accept a hug, but Harry has other plans. He leans forward and kisses her in a way that's merely pressing his smile against hers until they mold their mouths into a kiss. Then he kisses her cheek repeatedly, making her shoulders bunch as she smiles brightly.

When Harry finally pulls away, Y/n's cheeks are flushed as she tries to wipe at her husband's face with her thumb. With one last kiss, he heads up to the stage to accept his award.

*.*

Another performance, only this time, everyone is on their feet, including Harry and Y/n.

Harry's arms are wrapped around Y/n's shoulders from behind, his chin on her shoulder. Both of them sway from side to side to the rhythm of the song as Harry mouthed the words in Y/n's ear.

Her grin is wide as her eyes stay trained on the performance. Then, she looks back at Harry, who met her gaze as she says something.

Nodding, he kisses her once on the cheek before nodding back to the stage.

*.*

As Kid speaks into the microphone onstage saying his thank yous, Harry is having the time of his life behind his friend as he speaks to Stanley Tucci.

By now it's a little obvious he's had more than a couple drinks. His hair is nothing short of a mess, his dress shirt is a little more unbuttoned than it had been to begin with, and he throws his head back and laughs in a way that is fueled by drunken delight.

Briefly, the camera turns to Harry's wife, who stands beside Gemma. Y/n's hands hold her face as she watches her husband be ushered offstage by the people around him. She giggles a little before leaning over to Gemma and shaking her head. Gemma laughs along with her, covering her mouth as she says something to the woman beside her.

The camera flashes back to Harry, who turns around one last time so he can blow a kiss to the crowd, more specifically, Y/n, who the camera catches covering her face in her hands, cheeks as red as her dress.

*.*

Paparazzi shout at their latest persons of interest as they make the brief walk from the car to the entrance of a club where the after party for the Brits is being held.

Harry's arms are tightly wrapped around Y/n's waist, face set as he ignores the crowd of people shouting for his attention. Y/n, turned slightly inward towards Harry's chest, keeps pace beside him. Most of her body is covered by what can only be her husband's suit jacket, but with the open front, a hint of a sparkly pink dress can be seen, a drastic change from her award show attire.

The only time they separate is when Harry allows Y/n entrance into the club first before following close behind, his hand once again protectively hovering over the small of her back.

*.*

Photos are strictly forbidden inside of the club, so it isn't until the couple emerges from the doors once again that they're spotted.

Neither of them stumble, though paparazzi wouldn't have cared if they were. All eyes are on Harry's disheveled hair, the heels dangling from his fingers, the suit jacket draped over the arm not around his wife. They're on Y/n, whose dress is completely on display, the beading that covers its entirety flashing with every snap of the camera's shutter.

Then the collar of Harry's silk dress shirt shifted, revealing a harsh purple bruise that hadn't been there before. Neither Harry nor Y/n seem to notice, or understand why the cacophony of shouts became louder, they just continue on, Y/n's hand on the nape of her husband's neck idly scratching until he helps her into the car.

Following suit, Harry climbs inside. For a brief moment, Harry sticks his head out the open window of the car and winks and sticks his tongue out at all the photographers. Y/n appears from her side of the car, leaning across her husband to bring the window up. Not an ounce of care in the world, he leans forward to kiss his wife's exposed jaw. With an exasperated expression on her face and a delicate wave of her fingers, the window goes up, and though the windows are tinted, a hand is visible against the glass as the car peeled away from the curb.

#harry styles #young dad! harry #young mom! reader #young dadrry #young parent!harry styles #harry styles blurb #harry styles x reader #harry styles fanfic #harry styles oneshot #harry styles imagine #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles x you #harry styles fluff #harry styles writing #harry styles one shot #harry styles fic

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