Reexamination of Beatrix Kiddo and the #MeToo Movement Image

Reexamination of Beatrix Kiddo and the #MeToo Movement

By Zofia Wijaszka | April 21, 2020

Volume 2 is dedicated to Kiddo’s past and training with the legendary Pai Mei, all of which display her path to perfection. She ultimately gets revenge on the rest of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad in the second part. The last stop and a battle with Bill are not only thrilling and suspenseful but also highly emotional. We find out that Beatrix Kiddo is a mother. Little B.B. (Perla Haney-Jardine) finally reunites with her mom and seems to know all about her. The legendary assassin becomes a mother and takes to it quite naturally. The viewers discover the reason for leaving Bill and the squad. Her choice was motherhood and a life free of crime.

Revenge Has a Sweet Taste: Kiddo Vs. Modern Discourses

It’s interesting to see how Thurman’s creation correlates with contemporary female protagonists known from their vengeance portrayed in the cinema or on television.

“…violence against women is portrayed vastly differently when it comes to men.”

Although born from the minds of Tarantino and Thurman in 2003, the character of Beatrix Kiddo remains universal, like many other vengeful ladies of cinema and television. One that is similar to Beatrix is June, aka Offred (Elisabeth Moss) from The Handmaid’s Tale. Based on the book by Margaret Atwood, the futuristic Gilead in America forces women, so-called handmaids, to be the families’ servants. Their main goal is to give children to their Commanders. Offred is raped, often beaten, but she says, “enough.” From season to season, she quietly stands up, gathers a group of similarly rebellious women, and creates resistance. In her way, she seeks revenge on the Waterford family, where she was the most brutalized as well as others who have hurt handmaids.

The reason as to why I’m comparing both of those is simple. Kill Bill, as well as the Hulu original series, are similarly brutal. However, the violence towards Offred and Beatrix equals the violence they deliver to their oppressors. It’s always about something as simple as revenge. Kiddo got hers, and Offred is not quite ready yet. With the newest season currently on hold, we have yet to find out about her fate.

What about Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Helena Bertinelli? “She calls herself The Huntress,” Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) narrates, “f*****g fabulous if you ask me.” In Birds of Prey And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn directed by Cathy Yan, The Huntress seeks revenge on people who killed her entire family. Helena survived the massacre. After years of training, she’s come back to Gotham to bring justice. The Huntress is more in the background. She’s somewhat shy, almost anti-social. She gained my attention, however, because revenge was the goal of her entire life. Her and Kiddo are very different but have one thing in common – their drive to survive, protect, and avenge. As the Bride has a sword, Helena uses a crossbow as a lethal weapon.

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  1. Jason Hillman says:

    If you want to stick with the Kill Bill narrative, O-Ren watched her whole family get slaughtered and she worked her way to the top just to, you know, SHOW ’em.

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