Abstract

The following leverages a queer(ed) somaesthetic lens to analyze the protagonist of "Poor Things" (2023), Bella Baxter, as a figure of deviance. Bella's body, as a queer(ed) space, serves as a vehicle for learning through the sensual erotic, a source of social discourse on personhood, morality, and autonomy, and a space where others project hegemonic norms of beauty, gender, and sexuality. The article further examines queerness through her identity, actions, gender, and sexuality and challenges conventional norms, making her body a site for exploration and expression of deviation. Finally, the article examines the role of power, policing, and violence as a by-product of deviance, drawing parallels between Bella's experiences and those of queer people and other marginalized groups. By exploring Bella's character, the paper illuminates "Poor Things" (2023) as a compelling commentary on queer(ed) and embodied discussions of identity, autonomy, and personhood.