Penelope Featherington: Bridgerton Fever (Chapter 1)

Penelope’s character: Inspiration

Hello Bridgerton fans! Let’s talk Bridgerton Season 3 Penelope Featherington character. So, as we previously mentioned in our introduction, this season is all about Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton. It’s the POLIN season. Filled with friends to lovers romance, wallflower blooming aesthetics, truths and lies, plans and schemes as well as self-discovery and character development. To me this season is about growth and stepping into the light, along with the romance. Here are my favorite takes on Penelope’s character and inspirational notes:

1-Positive outlook on media’s non-stereotypical body-image:

Presenting us with the female lead who doesn’t adhere to stereotypical body-shape standards is a big YES. A most appreciated step from the Media! Showing that over-sized individuals can have their heroic stories and get the love-story everybody deserves. This simple, yet highly impactful detail, would, unconsciously, lead to strengthening self-worth for so many people. Rebecca Shaw expressed it amazingly in her column “Nicola Coughlan is a little bit fat and a lot hot. Like her, I dream of the day when we’re not talking about this”.

2-Smart and Witty Heroine:

It’s a no-brainer that Penelope is a very smart woman, beautifully witty and funny. Her attention to detail and observation skills are plausible. It suffices for her to watch the dynamics of the room to understand what is happening. She is extremely good at joining the dots of plots in the ton. The best part is that Pen is discrete about this ability and does not find the necessity to brag about it or play the classic nerdy. She is a passionate non-pick me woman who took a profession in what she likes. All while adhering to certain ethics, which we will talk about in a minute. 

3-Heroine with a life purpose:

Despite being a romance genre, this season showcases a lead woman who has dreams and aspirations other than marriage, without opposing the latter. Creating a balance in the female nature and the character’s femininity. The fact that she believes in her skills as a writer and aims to use them in something she enjoys, thus making money independently is inspirational. It shows how a woman in that era took matters in her hand. To exercise her passion and monetize it while being careful. Because well, it was unacceptable to do what she was doing in her era. All while not refusing the idea of marriage. Rather hoping that IF she finds one, he will allow her the privacy she needs as Lady Whistledown. 

Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in season 3 episode 02 of Bridgerton.Laurence Cendrowicz/Netflix

4-Creatively Influential Female Lead:

What I personally admire the most is that she does what SHE TRULY LOVES as Lady Whistledown. Penelope shapes a part of her society that she believes needs to be addressed and not as a way to get attention. Rather she harnesses power through her writings in a time where women were not allowed such freedom nor power. Something the ton men had easy access to. Pen has established a name for herself as Lady Whistledown and gained the ability to influence her readers, the queen herself! 

5-Her good intentions: 

Despite being deprived of her family’s attention and love. Receiving the harsh bullying of her fellow debutantes, envy and evilness did not make way to her heart. She remained fair in her writings. She states facts, shares the current situations and circulating information publicly and keeps away the hypocrisy. I mean she named Daphne the Diamond of the First water and gave her the opportunity she needed! 

I know that many condemn her for writing about Marina, Eloise and Colin but hear me out! 

For Marina, she tried several times to convince her to not fool Colin and to be honest. Pen even talked to him about it without divulging Marina’s secret, keeping her respectful image and never harming her reputation. She tried every other way. Penelope even went to extreme extents to make Marina have faith again in her lover’s good intentions (which is true). Penelope uncovered her mother’s (Lady Portia Featherington) scheme in making Marina lose hope. She tried to save Marina and was the only one to treat her well in the house. Eventually, when Marina remained determined on fooling Colin and taking advantage of his good will and interest in her; Penelope could not stand without doing anything about it. I mean, he is her close friend and her chidlhood’s crush, she felt the need to protect him and save him from a lie. 

As for Eloise, I did not watch what happened, but got the idea from the internet. Apparently -and correct me if I’m wrong, she wrote an article about her to protect her from the queen’s suspicions of El being Lady whistledown. She was trying to save her, and maybe she took the wrong turn to do so, or did not know how to choose her words right. (Could anyone please inform me of what she said exactly about her?). Nonetheless, she did it with good intentions and finally, she was saved, though hurt. 

Now, What about Colin? Well, unlike many I do not blame her for writing about his new fake personality in the beginning of season 3. That is because she was honest and trying to make him reconsider the act he was playing. Her aim was to shake him to behave as who he truly is. As someone who knows him and loves him for who he is. Plus being hurt for what he said about her last season while trying to fit into society’s men’s world. She felt the need to call him out and give him the slap he needed to look in the mirror and find his way into his truth. Might be done harshly, but for the better and in good intention.

She might have made reckless choices and mistakes as Lady Whistledown, but not in an evil mindset. Despite being shamed and bullied by her society.

6-She is powerful, and she is humble about it! 

Penelope’s aim as Lady Whistledown in my opinion, was not to get attention as Penelope Featherington. Since obviously she writes anonymously, rather to bring attention to her writings and to make an impact, to feel heard! She didn’t even brag about being Lady Whistledown to her biggest admirer in season 1: Eloise, despite being her bestie. Part of that, of course, is for protection and keep her liberty to write without censorship. 

All in all, Pen used her quill to write so many things, each time with a motive she thought of as innocent or necessary (her POV). But never a LIE! Never accused someone of something they did not do or used her column to purposefully ruining someone’s reputation via lies. Penelope just wanted to be heard, to reveal truths, expose those who hurt her and hurt others and report what veritable gossips in the ton. She made mistakes, but not as much as most people around her did and never with evil intentions. She needed to just find her way and realize her power. Pen slayed at the end through acknowledging her errors, harsh words and wrong turns she took in good intentions, and apologized to everybody.

She set herself free and allowed herself to be who she truly is in the light, without any masks. Penelope Featherington is a heroine to be remembered and learnt from.

Do not be ashamed of who you are, speak yourself, and step into the light that suits you. You deserve love, respect and a happy life.

We all deserve to live our truths.

Love,

NC

See you in the next chapter about Colin.