Binding Narratives

By Madison Marlow

Image from Gone with the Wind - 1939 via gettyimages

Corsets in films have transcended the role of historical costume pieces as seen from Scarlett O’Hara’s dramatic corset scene in Gone With the Wind to Elizabeth Bennet’s controlled elegance in Pride and Prejudice. Corsets represent strong feminine ideals while highlighting social norms and acts of defiance. Period dramas use corsets as symbols to depict the strict physical and social limitations women faced. 

The scene from Gone With the Wind where Scarlett O’Hara’s maid is tightening her corset while holding onto the bedpost illustrates the oppressive demands of Southern womanhood. In Pride and Prejudice, the subtle but ever-present corset highlights the silent societal expectations that govern Elizabeth’s environment. The depiction of corsets in movies extends beyond simple restriction as they often represent women's empowerment. 

With her jewel-covered corsets, Satine in Moulin Rouge demonstrates her sensual independence while establishing control over her personal story. In Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Elizabeth Swann's near-drowning experience that is only heightened with a tight corset symbolizes her challenge against aristocratic constraints before she ultimately embraces a life of exploration and independence. 

The fashion industry today has transformed corsets from symbols of restriction into an inspiration for structured silhouettes while recognizing their potential as expressions of personal identity. The corset functions as both a symbol of confinement and a means of empowerment which continues to serve as a powerful visual element in film while transforming our perception of historical narratives and women's changing roles in society and cinema.