Performing Power and Womanhood: A feminist analysis of Queen Charlotte in A Bridgerton Story

Abstract

This study analyzes the construction of power and femininity through the character of Queen Charlotte in"Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" (2023). Previous analyses of the series have predominantlyconcentrated on narrative resistance and gender stereotypes, with insufficient emphasis on the performativeand intersectional aspects of identity. This study employs a qualitative interpretive methodology to examineselected moments from Episodes 1, 4, 5, and 6, focusing on verbal and nonverbal components, such asconversation, gestures, posture, and wardrobe. Butler's theory of gender performativity, Crenshaw's idea ofintersectionality, and de Beauvoir's idea of the social construction of femininity all help shape the approach.The results indicate that Queen Charlotte's identity is not static but is perpetually negotiated throughperformative acts that concurrently convey authority and femininity. Her character exemplifies how powercan manifest in emotional, relational, and embodied modalities rather than solely through conventionalmasculine paradigms. Additionally, her status as a Black woman in a royal setting underscores theintersection of gender, race, and class in the formation of intricate authority structures. This work enhancesfeminist media studies by offering a cohesive analysis of performativity and intersectionality, highlightingthe significance of visual and embodied aspects for understanding female power in modern historical drama.