By Ruby Schwalm
Being an outcast isn’t easy to handle. But, being an outcast in an environment of other outcasts is not for the weak. There is only one person who could handle it.
That person is Wednesday Addams.
Netflix’s “Wednesday” is full of odd and deceptive quirks that can be offputting. According to Buzzfeed, their article “How to bring out your inner Wednesday Addams”, provides a 12-step guide to literally become Wednesday.
Yet, she presents a personality trait many of us wish we had. It’s called being “assertive”. This means showing a confident or forceful personality.
Most known for her braids, dark wardrobe, and obsession with death, the thing that intimidates most people is her ability to dominate.
The new series portrays Wednesday Addams as a rebellious and mysterious schoolgirl who enjoys her own suffering. Yet, over time, she becomes curious about her not-so-simple town. But, while attending school, she’s forced to interact with many types of “outcasts”.
She is someone we can all take notes from because when it comes to standing your ground, she’s the girl with the authority.
In episode two, “Woe Is The Loneliest Number”, Wednesday is talking to Thing by a plant. When Queen Bee Bianca Barclay sees her talking, to what she thinks is the plant, she mentions how Wednesday “finally made a friend”. This does not embarrass Wednesday. In fact, she embraces the snarky comment by saying, “I go for quality over quantity.”
This is a shot at Bianca’s personality, as well as her large group of followers.
Wednesday maintains a cool temper while putting people in their places left and right.
In episode three, “Friend or Woe”, Wednesday walks with Xavior Thorpe after experiencing a traumatic vision of the past. She explains what she saw and Xavior proceeds to say that her visions are a product of a story she creates. He tries to shut her encounter down with logical thinking, but Wednesday says, “Are you mansplaining my power?”
Wednesday is not one to hold back what she js thinking. If someone tries questioning her feminine hold, her assertiveness will clap back.
Even when it comes to giving the truth, she’ll be completely authentic no matter the cost. In episode four, “Woe What a Night”, Wednesday sets up her monster-hunting inspiration board in Eugene Ottinger’s hummer (bee) sanctuary. While discussing the monster, he mentions Wednesday’s roommate, Enid Sinclair. Eugene asks Wednesday to give Enid a jar of honey and “put in a good word” for him.
Wednesday fails to take into account his romantic feelings about Enid and remains brutally honest by saying, “People like me and you, we’re different. We’re original thinkers, intrepid outliers in this vast cesspool of adolescence. We don’t need these inane rites of passage to validate who we are.”
She tells Eugene that he can’t blame his inability to gain Enid’s interest by playing the “long game”.
Wednesday is immune to others’ opinions. She doesn’t care what people think, even if the truth hurts. I think we all need to be like her, in a way. Asserting our control, less morbidly, may play to our strengths.
So no, you don’t need to appear half-dead or stop smiling for the rest of your life to embody the child full of woe. Being assertive is a power move and speaking your mind more often could feed your inner Wednesday Addams.
