Representation Of Women In ¡®Bridgerton¡¯ Is Top-Notch & Every Single One Of Them Is Praiseworthy
Touted as the Gossip Girl of the regency era, Bridgerton has yet again made a lasting impression with its second offering. The second season has not only opened to rave reviews but it has also left the Indian audiences mesmerized in its wake. Why you ask? Well, for those who still don¡¯t know, the quest of the viscount to find a suitable bride has an Indian-origin girl contesting. The Sharmas are seen arriving in the Ton and immediately catching the attention of most suitors. More so because Lady Danbury takes them under her wing.
Now, what makes the show such a compelling watch? Based in London, England in the 1800s, upper-crust families push their daughters to make sparkling formal debuts into society in order to meet and marry men with a popular family name to further their own family¡¯s name and fortune. This world of British aristocracy projects a lot that is wrong but what it does get right is the presentation of strong and empowered women. Come to think of it, Bridgerton is basically women-driven right from the Queen to the matriarchs of popular families.?
Let¡¯s celebrate the women who ran the show. Scroll!
Simone Ashley - Kate Sharma
Unlike the previous season which revolved around Daphne, this season¡¯s MVP was Kate Sharma. The protective sister of debutant Edwina, she takes it upon herself to find a worthy husband for her younger sister. She is unsparing, witty and fiercely independent. Not one to mince her words, no suitor is good enough for her sister. While she wanted the most eligible man for her sister, she openly declared that she had no intentions to ever get married whatsoever.
Charithra Chandran - Edwina Sharma
The debutante who eventually becomes the diamond of the season, Edwina has her own distinct individuality but she is loyal towards her elder sister beyond words. She not only swears by her didi¡¯s beliefs, she tries her best to meet her sister¡¯s high expectations. Her kind nature and pleasant personality fetches her the spotlight of the Queen and the most eligible suitors alike, including the viscount. Edwina goes through a transformation during the show. Her bold and independent stance is admirable and inspiring.
Claudia Jessie - Eloise Bridgerton
In the previous season, she was the carefree and highly opinionated woman batting for women¡¯s rights. In the latest one, the second eldest Bridgerton daughter becomes a reluctant debutante who has zero interest in finding a suitable life partner. She tries to escape it as much as she can and finds solace in reading books and tracking down Lady Whistledown.
Nicola Coughlan - Penelope Featherington
Always hiding in the background, Penelope is mostly overlooked by the bachelors of the ton. Completely opposite from her best friend Eloise, she enjoys gossip and often keeps a tab on people of influence and affluence. For the uninitiated, she¡¯s the mastermind behind Lady Whistledown and she lets go of all her inhibitions when she holds the pen. On one hand, she enjoys reporting salacious news, on the other, she hopes that someday Eloise¡¯s younger brother Colin will come to realise his feelings for her and ask her hand in marriage.
Golda Rosheuvel - Queen Charlotte
She is the queen, the matriarch of the country. A formidable force who believes in judging every new batch of debutantes closely. Her favourite pastime is to pick the season¡¯s ¡®diamond¡¯. She is a big supporter of love and wants her diamond to find the best suitor.?
In this season, we see a different side to her as her companion King George III makes an appearance and seems to have a mental illness unknown to their subjects. She fiercely protects him and his secret while keeping a brave face. She makes it her mission to track down the anonymous author Lady Whistledown and find her true identity and unmask the traitor who has been tossing secrets out in the open.
Beneath the heavy wigs and the metaphorical walls, Queen Charlotte portrays her sentimental side in this season.
Adjoa Andoh - Lady Danbury
A close confidante of Queen Charlotte, Lady Danbury keeps her informed about everything that goes down in the ton. Hosting the Sharma family in this season, the dowager and matchmaker takes a personal interest in finding Edwina a husband much to the chagrin of Kate.
She is the queen of sass and has a flair for one-liners. She is known to not give a damn about anything or anyone. Not even the queen. Her voice is the mightiest and she makes herself heard.
When it comes to love, Lady Danbury is a puppet master who pulls the strings despite being in the shadows.
Ruth Gemmell - Violet Bridgerton
Everyone's favorite mama, Violet Bridgerton is a hardcore romantic who wants all her children to find true love - the kind that she had with her husband, Edmund.
The matriarch of the Bridgerton family, Lady Violet is? a picture of honor and duty. She¡¯s nurturing and strong in equal measure. After losing her husband, she becomes in charge of the Bridgeton household and we get to see a glimpse of her journey to becoming one. Despite all the scandals surrounding her family, she manages to keep her head held high and encourages her children to follow their hearts. She carries out her duties with grace and dignity while keeping her principles in tact.
Polly Walker - Portia Featherington
The Baroness can easily be called the villain of the ton. Her family¡¯s social standing is in the dumps and she will go to any lengths to rectify that. Even at the cost of her daughter Prudence¡¯s reputation. She¡¯s an ambitious matriarch whose only goal is to uphold the reputation of her family and in this process she sacrifices the happiness of her kids without thinking twice. She lies, schemes, plots and connives her way through the most absurd situations to climb the social ladder while stepping over many people on the way including her own daughters.
Phoebe Dynevor - Daphne Bridgerton
Last but not the least, Daphne was the star of season 1 as the plot revolved around her debut and marriage. However, in season 2, she is merely a guest who graces us with her presence here and there. She does play a pivotal role in making her brother come into his senses and realising where his heart lies. She is someone who will not bend to anyone¡¯s will if she feels it will hurt herself or her family.
