The latest season of Bridgerton arrives with a bold declaration: "Life is meant to be lived." However, as viewers delve into the four new episodes, it becomes increasingly evident that this philosophy is selectively applied, highlighting a stark divide between the privileged elite and the working-class servants who enable their lavish lifestyles.
A Glimpse into the Downstairs World
Season 4 opens with an intriguing shift in perspective, offering a rare look into the "downstairs" realm—the housekeeping staff of the Bridgerton family. For Mrs. Wilson, the chief housekeeper, preparing for a grand family reunion might seem like just another Tuesday, but this brief focus on the servants prompts a deeper inquiry. Are we, as an audience, meant to genuinely care about their lives, or are they merely background players facilitating the romantic escapades of their wealthy employers?
This curiosity about their well-being lingers throughout the season, yet it often feels sidelined by the central narratives of the Bridgerton clan.
Benedict Bridgerton's Privileged Struggles
The season primarily centers on Benedict Bridgerton, the artistic and free-spirited middle sibling. After years of character development, Benedict now faces the classic Bridgerton dilemma: balancing his personal freedoms with the expectations of his family name. His mother, Violet Bridgerton, insists he marry, setting the stage for his reluctant return to high society.
But what are the real stakes for a man like Benedict? His "struggle" revolves around whether to continue his sexual explorations or settle into a comfortable marriage—a luxury afforded only to those with immense wealth and social standing.
The Illusion of Freedom for Women
While the season champions the idea of living life to the fullest, this freedom appears reserved for the elite. Violet Bridgerton discreetly pursues a new romance, Penelope Featherington longs for the anonymity she lost as Lady Whistledown, and Lady Danbury seeks to travel beyond her duties. Yet, even these women remain trapped by patriarchal norms, their identities and arcs inextricably linked to the men in their lives.
Benedict's actions, perceived as debauchery by society, could tarnish the reputations of his unmarried sisters, underscoring how women's freedoms are constantly constrained by male relatives.
Sophie Baek: A Maid with a Secret
Enter Sophie Baek, the mysterious "Lady in Silver" who captures Benedict's attention. Unlike the noblewomen he dismisses as lacking animation, Sophie is portrayed as intellectually curious, well-read, and artistically inclined. However, a crucial twist reveals she is not a noblewoman at all but a maid for the Penwood family.
Sophie's character raises provocative questions about class and romance in the Bridgerton universe. The show seems unable to imagine a working-class woman worthy of love without endowing her with aristocratic traits. Moreover, it is later disclosed that Sophie is the illegitimate daughter of the late Lord Penwood, raised as his ward before being relegated to maid status after his death.
The Great Maid Wars and Class Disparities
Sophie's dismissal from the Penwoods triggers the "Great Maid Wars," a subplot played for comic relief in Lady Whistledown's columns. Yet, this event highlights a deeper issue: the livelihoods and displacements of maids are treated as mere plot devices, secondary to the romantic dramas of the wealthy upstairs.
This narrative choice begs the question: Would Benedict's love story with Sophie be plausible if she were simply a maid, without any secret noble lineage? The inclusion of her aristocratic blood suggests that class barriers in Bridgerton can only be crossed when they are revealed to be illusory.
Whose Freedom Is Valued?
Benedict's proposition to make Sophie his mistress—a move that mirrors her mother's circumstances—places her in a precarious position. For Benedict, this is an extension of his privileged identity; for Sophie, it could ruin her reputation entirely. This dynamic underscores the show's central critique: freedom is a luxury afforded to the wealthy, while the working class remains in the background, their stories valued only as they serve the romances of the elite.
As the season progresses with four more episodes to come, the servants seem destined to stay exactly where they have always been: waiting on someone else's happy ending. Bridgerton may trade in fantasy, but Season 4's treatment of class reveals a harsh truth about whose lives are truly meant to be lived—and on whose labor that living depends.
