Sylvia Wynter's Dream

Spoilers ahead

Poster for Wednesday 

Jenna Ortega 

Meet Wednesdays Addams, plant lover, die heart Edgar Allen fan, writer with a typewriter and what one would say odd one out of the bunch. Wednesday is a teenager who lacks empathy and emotion throughout the series. The release of Netflix highly anticipated series Wednesday on November 23 was internet breaking to say the least. Twitter was in an uproar about how relatable and different the main character Wednesday Addams was. The series has eight episodes that centers around Wednesday and her journey to Nevermore Academy where she becomes entangled in murder mysteries, relationships, friendships and overall a worth wild semester. After watching the series, besides being obsessed and surprised about Tyler, I realized that Wednesday is incredibly smart and skilled in a number of activities like writing, fencing, languages and self defense. What stood out to me was her lack of social interaction and empathy for others. For example: Wednesday feels no sympathy for her roommate Enid when she explains that she is not fully a werewolf or when she constantly dismisses the feelings of Xavier. Wednesday’s disregard for emotions is shown in numerous conversations with her parents and peers.  Besides being the gothic, dark girl everyone knows her to be, Wednesday is completely out of touch with modern reality. Another example is how she has no regard for emotions or how others feel.  This is completely okay as not everything modern is for everyone. 

What is Autism ? 

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention

STYLE 

Besides being allergic to color and apparently emotion, Wednesday style is that of black with a touch of white and nothing else. Black boots, hair, nails except for the dark lipstick which is quite surprising is all apart of her look. However, her lack of emotion stops her from feeling for others including her own mother and friend. Autism allows Wednesday to learn, interact and speak differently. 

Wednesday  has a monotone voice with advanced vocabulary which exhibits a superior status and intellect. Wednesday’s style screams different and odd, however our main character could care less what others think about her as she secretly enjoys being an outcast. Wednesday ironically is an outcast in a school meant for outcasts. However her style alone doesn’t make her different. Before transferring to Nevermore academy Wednesday has struggled to make friends, not that she wants to but it is still obvious that her only friend is herself and a typewriter that is until she slowly (major emphasis on slowly) warms up just a little to her roommate Enid. 

Spoiler: Wednesday is a writer that phantoms in writing dark thrillers that suggest she might need “psychiatric help”. 

Wednesday’s dress to Nevermore’s prom 

“Friends are a liability and can be exploited” says Wednesday Addams. These lines prove how comfortable she feels with being a loner and being her own person without the help of others to support her. 

Our main character is antisocial and overall unique. Wednesday is incredibly smart as it suggests from her multiple talents mentioned before which hints that she might be a genius of some sorts. She sees the world differently from others and that alone makes her unique from her peers. 

However despite her behaviour that others might describe as different, Wednesday is comfortable in her skin and her own voice. 

                                     WEDNESDAY EMBRACES HER UNIQUENESS 

The series lives up to my  expectations and so does Wednesday. Our main lead lives the school the same way she entered however, she learns empathy and friendship in the hardest ways I might add. Lets just say from near death experiences and visits to grave yards… okay look don’t ask, you’ll know when you choose to watch it on Netflix. Anyways, the main point is that Wednesday Addams lives comfortably as an outcast and embraces her personality regardless of what her peers and family have to say about her. 

Her voice was not once silent during the series which proves to be rather impressive being that she is a one of the kind at Nevermore. 

My Final Project, Voices of disabled people is about the opinions and lives of individuals living with a disability such as Autism. My project will be the voice and the messenger for persons who have alot to say regarding stereotypes about special needs persons. My reason for reviewing Wednesday Addams is because I think she represents a lot of individuals who live their lives the way they see fit. They are their own person, and they make life worth wild. This character is interesting to watch as she makes decisions throughout the series through her own way of seeing the world (which is black and white… ps series joke). 

Disclaimer: This series is not solely based on Autism. 

“I know the suspense is killing you”

• Wednesday Addams