By Emma Bassett
Autumn is growing ever nearer, something that I am more than happy about. The frigid air, looming grey skies and dying leaves are the perfect setting for my favourite time of the year: Halloween. Even now in the remains of the summer sun, I’ve found myself staring longingly at the ASDA Halloween aisle, resisting the urge to purchase yet another set of bedding adorned with black cats, pumpkins or skeletons.
I have already fallen into temptation with the spooky films, having started with Tim Burton’s charmingly tragic Corpse Bride. To give a brief synopsis, Victor and Victoria are arranged to be wed. After ruining the rehearsal ceremony with his nerves, Victor flees into the forest where he feels free to practise his vows. Unbeknownst to Victor, this trial run is not a private event. Victor ends his speech by placing a ring on a hand-shaped branch; the hand of the ‘corpse’ bride Emily. With that, the love triangle between Victor, his bride-to-be and his ‘corpse bride’ is born.
Plenty of people were upset by the ending of the film, wishing that Victor had ended up with Emily. I certainly see where they’re coming from – Emily’s character is much more deeply explored compared to Victoria’s. The famous piano duet also helped her case, showcasing the chemistry that her and Victor had whilst Victoria had no equivalent. Nevertheless, this should not take away from Victoria’s value to the film. Both she and Emily are great examples of strong female characters who fervently fight for their desires. Let’s take the spotlight away from Victor’s authority, and instead turn to the brilliant qualities that both Victoria and Emily have in their own right.
Victoria
Victoria is the first of the two women that we meet and we immediately learn that she wants to marry for love. As the film is set in the Victorian era, this was a radical take, with pragmatic concerns often being the foundation of marriage. Victoria’s parents represent this reality, making it clear in a conversation with Victoria that they don’t love each other. This was the marriage dynamic Victoria grew up with, yet she is desperate to not follow in their footsteps. Much like an Elizabeth Bennett of her story, she values love over financial security and pursues this throughout the film.
On hearing Victor playing the piano from her room, she ventures downstairs to meet him for the first time before the wedding rehearsal unchaperoned, which Victor himself is surprised by. This is another example of Victoria going against societal norms but in a more serious way. Women had to be chaperoned at this time to avoid scandal and protect their reputation. Albeit in her own home, Victoria disregards this rule. Her authority is returned to her in a brief moment of defiance, allowing her to navigate her arranged marriage on her own terms as much as possible. Also, in this scene she gives Victor the flower Baby’s Breath – a symbol of ever-lasting love. Victoria again takes on an active role, displaying her desire for a love match openly.
Image Credit: Corpse Bride (2005), Netflix
Even after hearing that Victor was seen with another woman, Victoria continues to fight for him. When Victor comes in through Victoria’s window, she is happy to see him and expresses her concern for him with no question of the other woman. She pleads fruitlessly to her parents to let her help him after Emily takes Victor away. Unsurprisingly, her parents refuse, leading Victoria to take matters into her own hands. She escapes from her locked room through her window in the pouring rain, in an attempt to save Victor from his ‘corpse’ bride. Victoria’s strength lies in her perseverance; she fights for what she wants as hard as she can. She faces barrier after barrier yet never stops trying, maintaining her promise of an ever-lasting love. The same can’t be said for Victor, who gives up on Victoria almost immediately after learning that she’s engaged to another man. “How could she?” he proclaims, as if Victoria always had the right to choose.
Image Credit: Corpse Bride (2005), Netflix
Within her second arranged marriage to the antagonist Lord Barkis, Victoria has the courage to stand up to him. Following the chaotic scene when the dead had risen for Emily and Victor’s wedding, we see Victoria and Lord Barkis alone. The Lord demands money from her in order for the two of them to run away together. Victoria confidently unfurls the truth; her family has no money. He grabs her with force and shakes her, exclaiming that she must be lying. Nevertheless, Victoria stands tall and says: “Did things not go according to your plan, Lord Barkis?” She then pushes him away, letting him know that she too was disappointed in their marriage before leaving the room. With the backdrop of the Victorian period, this is particularly poignant. It takes great strength for a woman today to escape from a similarly horrifying situation, let alone at a time when women’s rights were severely limited. To do so with such poise and conviction is incredibly inspiring.
Image Credit: Corpse Bride (2005), Netflix
Whilst this is obviously a fictional story, Victoria’s strength and determination throughout the film is worthy of merit. Far from the boring woman that some make her out to be, she is a powerful character who fights for what she wants and what she deserves.
Emily
Shortly after our introduction to Emily, we are told about her tragic past. She planned to elope with a man (who we later learn is Lord Barkis) but he kills her before they could wed. To continue the Pride and Prejudice comparisons, this is a move straight from a naive Lydia Bennett. However, I’ll admit that it takes guts to go against your father’s wishes to marry who you choose, especially at this time. Emily and Victoria are similar in that sense; they both seek love connections and are willing to go to the ends of the earth for them. Even after death, Emily still hopes to find love, showing that she will never give up her dream.
Perhaps it is this desperation that resulted in her naivety again coming to light. She lets Victor run off to ‘see his parents’ whilst she is left behind to wait for his return. Yet she held herself highly. Just before Victor leaves, she dances around in the moonlight with no fear or shame. After finally being persuaded to follow Victor, she proudly proclaims to Victoria, “I’m his wife,” before taking him back to the underworld.
Image Credit: Corpse Bride (2005), Netflix
Unfortunately, her self esteem takes a beating when Victor says: “I would never marry you.” However, Emily doesn’t let this stop her, and she bounces back from her heartbreak during the piano duet. She ignores Victor and is clearly angry with him in this scene, but they eventually reconcile through their mutual interest in music. She didn’t allow her hope of a love-filled marriage to completely vanish due to Victor’s comments.
Image Credit: Corpse Bride (2005), Netflix
It is in the latter part of the film where Emily’s strength is most evident. She makes the first of many difficult decisions when she learns that her and Victor’s marriage isn’t binding and the only way to make him stay is to kill him. She immediately refuses, in turn giving up the one thing she wanted more than anything else in order to protect Victor. This marks a shift in Emily’s character where she starts putting others before herself. Once he’d finished eavesdropping, Victor enters the room to tell Emily that he’d be more than happy to die for her. He obviously moved on from Victoria very quickly and in the process, reignited Emily’s hope for an ever-lasting love.
Now at the altar, Emily begins to recite her vows. However, she spots an onlooking Victoria somewhat hidden behind a wall and struggles to finish. This time around, Victor has no problem finishing the vows for her. In an act of female solidarity, Emily doesn’t allow Victor to drink from the cup. She was so close to getting all she desired, but she sacrificed it for Victoria and Victor’s happiness. It must have taken great strength to make that choice. Emily reaches for Victoria’s hand and places it in Victor’s, with a solemn yet content expression. There is no resentment towards either of them.
Image Credit: Corpse Bride (2005), Netflix
In a final brave feat, Emily confronts the man who killed her: Lord Barkis. She exposes his true colours in front of everyone and throws herself in front of Victor when the Lord tries to stab him with his sword. Emily then brandishes his weapon, granting herself authority against the man who had hurt her physically and emotionally. Similarly to Victoria’s actions against Lord Barkis, Emily’s scene with him is equally as moving. She becomes a genuine force to be reckoned with.
Image Credit: Corpse Bride (2005), Netflix
Emily remains a fan-favourite character and for good reason. Her emotions and passion fuel her drive and amplify her resilience. However, it is the empathy she learns to feel in the film’s denouement that is her true power.
Final Thoughts
Both Victoria and Emily are great examples of strong female characters, a feature which is particularly important for a film aimed at a younger audience. Victoria’s strength comes primarily from her perseverance, whilst Emily’s key strength lies in her ability to sacrifice her biggest desires for the happiness of others. These two women certainly know what they want and are willing to fight for it. Their encounters with the male antagonist demonstrate how both women stood up for themselves against the man who hurt them, which is important representation for women today. As valuable depictions of women, we shouldn’t pit Victoria and Emily against each other. Rather, we should honour them by giving them each a voice and their own agency away from Victor.
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