Bella Baxter Is the Epitome of Character Growth: Poor Things

First introduced in the film as a woman with the brain of a child, Bella Baxter proves that life exploration can change a person. Despite having her brain altered, being confined, and being forbidden from doing many things for most of her life, she is able to stand tall and discover her true self. Her curiosity leads her to the place she ultimately wants to be. 

Watching Bella Baxter in Poor Things is like watching human development. The audience is presented with Bella's development over time through her exploration of emotions. From someone who is trapped in an infant’s way of thinking and can't speak, she becomes a strong-willed woman in a short period of time.

Everything escalates when Duncan Wedderburn asks Bella to travel with him. With Bella's curiosity, she begs Godwin until she's allowed. But deep down, Godwin knows that Duncan is no better man. However, Godwin allows her anyway, and Bella takes advantage of it. 

The journey with Duncan is not just about Bella's sexual orientation. It is also about her finding the consequences of her own decisions. Her recklessness is the depiction of growing up. By trying different things and fueling her curiosity, she figures out what she wants. She is a woman who is determined to answer all questions on her own. 

After living her own life in Paris as a sex worker, she feels unhappy with her life. Bella finds herself numb to the things she knows would make her happy. She also feels betrayed by Godwin regarding where she comes from. That is where Bella feels deep disappointment. Throughout the film, Bella rarely expresses her disappointment. However, when Godwin lies to her, she clearly looks very disappointed. Bella's disappointment stems from her love for Godwin. People come and go, but Godwin is the only constant in Bella's life.

Even as she is about to marry a sincere man, Bella still doubts her decision when Victoria Blessington's husband suddenly appears and convinces her that he still loves the person she used to be. She decided to return to her old life.  This reflects normal human emotional turmoil. She is on a journey to find her true self, and of course, she then gets disappointed by the fact that her former self (Victoria Blessington) is a cruel person who is also abused by her own husband. With courage and a lot of anger, she manages to escape to Godwin's house.

Back at Godwin's house, she learns to have her own desire to become a doctor. She discovers how to be true to herself and grows into a woman who knows what she wants through the twists and turns of her life. Even her brain, which has been tampered with, does not prevent her from learning to be better than before. Killing Alfie Blessington by turning him into a goat is a depiction of how Bella has diminished her old life.

Bella Baxter's exploration in the movie Poor Things depicts complex human development. Bella faces many questions and obstacles. However, in the end, she is able to decide what is best for herself. The best way to deal with problems is to acknowledge them and try to fix them. Bella acknowledges her past behavior and strives to improve herself for the future.