In this talk, Tolonda Henderson will explore the ways in which narrative prosthesis is more pronounced in the Netflix Bridgerton adaptation than in the novel upon which it is based.
While the first season of Bridgerton is not often understood as a disability narrative, it cannot be denied that Simon would not be averse to marrying and having children if his father had not rejected him for stuttering as a child. The fact that the premise of the series is based on a disability that is then underplayed and dismissed is an example of narrative prosthesis. The written medium of the novel means that we have access to Simon’s interiority and can observe his coping strategies. The visual medium of the Netflix series, however, cannot replicate this access, especially because it does not use a voice over. In this talk, Tolonda Henderson will explore the ways in which narrative prosthesis is more pronounced in the Netflix adaptation than in the novel upon which it is based. While the show is well known for increasing the representation of people of color through its casting, it has missed an opportunity to explore disability as a speaking center of the tale.
Tolonda Henderson is a PhD student in the English Department at the University of Connecticut who specializes in disability, race, and young adult literature. A former Harry Potter scholar, they have given many talks on the popular series at the DC Public Libraries. Mx. Henderson lives in Connecticut with their husband, excitable dog, and bully of a cat.