Feminism In Fantastic Beasts: Queenie’s Powers Speak to Women’s Issues

In a recent interview, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them star Alison Sudol talks her character’s powers, the effects of which reflect modern feminism.

There are only two months left until eager Harry Potter fans can see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them at its official release. So, naturally, more teasers are dropping to keep our interest piqued. Recently, Pottermore snagged another interview with one of the film’s stars, Alison Sudol. Sudol plays Queenie, the younger of the Goldstein sisters, both of whom help inexperienced tourist Newt Scamander navigate the streets and speakeasies of 1920s New York.

We know from Potter history that the elder Goldstein, Tina, ends up marrying Newt. So we’ve known from the get-go that Tina will play an integral part in the trilogy. Queenie, however, is a different story. Aside from her relationship to one of the main characters, we knew nothing of her (aside from her killer curls, that is). But Sudol’s Pottermore interview added a major layer to her character: Queenie is a highly sensitive Legilimens.

To recap, Legilimency is more or less the art of mind-reading. But there are more intricacies involved than your average fortune-teller would have you believe. Sudol extrapolated further:

"“[Legilimency] really informs who she is, because she sees into people. She’s not just reading what you’re currently thinking, she’s seeing all of your truths. If she peers in far enough, she can go all the way down.”"

Image via Warner Brothers

Potter fans will remember from the original series that Snape and Voldemort were both skilled in this particular branch of magic. But this time around, we’ll be seeing a Legilimens who is an undisputed good guy–or gal, as the case may be. Queenie joins Tina, Newt, and No-Maj Jacob in their rag-tag group to collect the magical creatures that escape from Newt’s suitcase. The gang will go head-to-head with confused No-Majs and an impatient American wizarding government alike. No doubt Queenie’s powers will prove to be an asset throughout.

But what do these powers mean for Queenie herself? Sudol explains how her character’s keen Legilimency affects her relationships with others:

"“Obviously, it deepens the connection between Tina and Queenie because she knows so much about her sister without having to ask. That helps her help Tina. But she also has to protect herself and be aware of how [being a Legilimens] affects her. Tina’s the safest person for Queenie to be around.”"

That paragraph alone speaks volumes about the Goldstein sisters as a unit, as well as separate entities. Queenie’s Legilimency at once makes her powerful and vulnerable. And it seems that Tina may be the only person who won’t use this knowledge to exploit her sister in any way. This also speaks to the importance of female relationships. These sisters clearly have a strong bond, and trust one another implicitly.

Image via Warner Brothers

Unfortunately, Queenie’s Legilimency doesn’t affect all of her relationships positively. Not only is this magic incredibly taxing on its own, but it can also bring out the worst in people. As a woman who is constantly tuned in to others’ thoughts, Queenie suffers through a great deal of abuse, especially considering the time period in which she lives.

While the Roaring Twenties may have seen advancements for some American women, those women still had to fight tooth and nail. Political implications of the time or no, any women across space and time is bound to endure her daily dose of sexism. In Queenie’s case, the onslaught of misogyny is only exacerbated by her Legilimency.

"“[A]s a woman, the attention from men could be quite difficult. Queenie’s not ashamed of her body or self-conscious. Except that, well, she can hear exactly what a man is thinking about her. She knows what everyone is thinking about her. That would be so uncomfortable, right?”"

Right, indeed. This is a feeling which, to some degree, every woman can relate to. When we get into it, Queenie’s powers work against her in this way. She’s constantly exposed to uncensored sexual harassment. Even when no one is actively catcalling or otherwise pursuing her, Queenie’s mind is open to the minds of everyone around her. She gets no relief from verbal assault. Considering that Sudol points this out in her interview, I wonder what sort of impact it will have on her character within the narrative. I’m into the idea that maybe Tina throws a couple Stunners at the men who leer at her sister.

This further begs the question: How has Queenie’s rather extraordinary powers affected her personal growth? Is her confidence a result of desensitization? She’s always been privy to everyone’s opinion of her, so perhaps she’s learned to put herself first in spite of what others think. That would be something of a silver lining, and would offer some much-needed positivity to her situation. How have these powers affected her in the past? Have some trials and tribulations helped to bring her and Tina closer than Queenie’s Legilimency could do on its own? Does Tina fancy herself her sister’s keeper because of it?

Whether Queenie’s Legilimency proves to be more of a help or a hindrance, it will certainly impact her adventures in Fantastic Beasts. This revelation has already added some serious layers to her relationship with Tina. Being a Legilimens is no small feat. By that token, Queenie has a bigger role to play in this trilogy than initially thought. So it seems, anyway. More power to you, girlfriend. #VoteQueenie

Next: Disney's A Wrinkle In Time Adaptation Finds Its Heroine

We’ll see how Queenie’s Legilimency plays out for her and others come November. I for one am looking forward to watching the Goldstein sisters take New York by storm.