1 Easy-To-Miss Detail In Poor Things Perfectly Summarizes Bella’s Journey (Way Before The Ending)

The movie Poor Things has been celebrated by audiences thanks to Bella Baxter’s incredible transformation as a character, and one small detail perfectly captures her journey. Based on Alasdair Gray’s book, Poor Things, the movie follows Bella Baxter, a young woman who is reanimated with the brain of a fetus by eccentric scientist Godwin Baxter. Although Bella Baxter’s age changes in Poor Things, she’s essentially an infant in an adult body and must learn how to navigate the world for the first time. She learns about all the joy, confusion, and heartbreak that comes with being alive, and through these experiences, she also begins to discover her sense of self.

At the beginning of the film, Bella’s identity is completely wrapped up in Poor Things‘ cast of characters – specifically the men – in her life. Her world is shaped first by Godwin, then by Godwin’s student Max McCandles, and later by Duncan Wedderburn, whom she runs away with. Throughout her journey, Bella begins to develop her own identity outside what’s been imposed on her by these men. The more she explores, the more she’s able to advocate for herself even as other characters try to strip away her autonomy. This growth is reflected cleverly in one key aspect of Bella’s character – her language.

Bella Learning Personal Pronouns Last Brilliantly Highlights Her Journey To Independence

At first, Bella speaks in short, rudimentary sentences with no personal pronouns. As her vocabulary grows, so does her sense of identity. By the time Duncan arrives and Bella decides she wants to travel with him, she’s already begun to incorporate more identifying language into her speech. Although her phrasing is still stilted, she insists that if she is not allowed to go on this adventure, “Bella’s insides will turn rotten with hate.” This is the first time the audience sees Bella advocating for her emotional needs, and it marks a huge moment in her personal development.

Once Bella arrives in Lisbon, Poor Things switches from black-and-white to color, a symbolic visual change also reflected in her vocabulary. This is where Bella begins to discover herself, and her language noticeably shifts. As her world expands beyond Godwin’s home, Bella is exposed to new people and experiences and her vocabulary grows in response. By the time Bella reaches Paris, she’s fully grasped the use of personal pronouns. She no longer refers to herself as just Bella, Godwin’s creation, but as “I” and “myself.” This change in language shows how Bella has begun to think of herself as an independent person, and allows her to embrace her autonomy.

Language Plays A Big Role In The Development of Poor Things’ Characters

Bella’s language also affects how the other characters view her. Duncan complains about how much Bella has been reading and how she’s lost her “adorable way of speaking.” He views this growth as an inconvenience because Bella’s expression of her autonomy makes it harder for Duncan to objectify and control her. Alternatively, Godwin praises how Bella’s letters home allowed him to see how she “fearlessly create[d]” herself through her travels. Other characters’ language shifts throughout the film as well, reflecting Bella’s own experience. Max’s vocabulary becomes more refined while studying with Godwin, and Duncan’s becomes less so as he loses his sanity.

Poor Things centers on themes of identity and autonomy, so it makes sense that communication plays a huge role in the story. Bella is only able to achieve full independence once she can advocate for herself and surround herself with people who are willing to listen. By the ending of Poor Things, Bella has taken over Godwin’s estate with her partners Max and Toinette and realized her dream of becoming a doctor. She’s also performed her first experiment in Poor Things, transplanting the oppressive and misogynistic Alfie Blessington’s brain and stripping him of his autonomy, mirroring the way he tried to silence her.