Queenie Goldstein is a prominent character in the Fantastic Beasts film series, which is part of the Wizarding World created by J.K. Rowling. She is portrayed as a kind-hearted and loyal friend in the first Fantastic Beasts film, set in 1926. However, fans have debated whether Queenie takes a dark turn in the sequel Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, set in 1927. She ends up siding with the powerful dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, leading many to question if she has turned evil. This article will analyze Queenie’s character arc across the two films, examine key factors that impacted her choices, and explore whether she truly becomes a villain or if there is still hope for redemption.
Queenie’s Character in Fantastic Beasts (1926)
In the first Fantastic Beasts film, Queenie Goldstein is introduced as the younger sister of Tina Goldstein. Both sisters work for the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA), the American wizarding government. Queenie is a Legilimens, meaning she has the rare ability to read minds. Despite this magical talent, Queenie is presented as a very kind-hearted person who only uses her powers to understand people better, not to manipulate or take advantage of them.
She befriends the main protagonist Newt Scamander and helps him on his adventures. Queenie faithfully stands by her sister Tina even when Tina is demoted at MACUSA. Overall, Queenie is portrayed as the epitome of warmth, loyalty, and compassion in the first film. She seems to represent the good side of magic, using her special powers for empathy rather than harm.
Major Events in Crimes of Grindelwald (1927)
In the second film, set a year later, Queenie’s circumstances have changed. After MACUSA’s harsher laws threaten to separate Queenie and the No-Maj (Muggle) Jacob Kowalski, Queenie turns to Gellert Grindelwald for help. Grindelwald advocates for wizards to rise up, rule over No-Majs, and create a new world order. While Grindelwald’s methods are violent and brutal, he offers Queenie and Jacob the possibility of a society where they don’t have to hide their relationship.
Desperate to be with Jacob, Queenie joins Grindelwald’s followers. She even uses her Legilimency to extract information from Auror Tina Goldstein about Credence Barebone, whom Grindelwald is searching for. By the end of the film, Queenie seems firmly entrenched with Grindelwald and his building army.
Does this Mean Queenie has Turned Evil?
Queenie’s defection to Grindelwald is certainly a shock, given her warm and gentle nature in the first film. However, an analysis of her motivations reveals a more nuanced situation. Queenie has not suddenly transformed into a wicked person; rather, she is a good person backed into desperate circumstances.
Queenie’s deepest desire is simply to be with the man she loves, Jacob. After MACUSA threatened to obliviate Jacob’s memories of magic again, Queenie felt she had no choice but to turn to Grindelwald. To Queenie in that moment of desperation, Grindelwald’s talk of freedom for her and Jacob trumped his sinister motivations. Queenie’s actions do not come from malice, but from an overwhelming desire for her simple human wish to be fulfilled.
Queenie’s Capacity for Good Remains
Despite affiliating with Grindelwald, glimpses of Queenie’s inherent goodness shine through in Crimes of Grindelwald. When Queenie reads Jacob’s mind and realizes he wants to take their relationship slowly, she respects his feelings rather than manipulate him with her powers. She also reassures him when he is anxious about meeting her parents, demonstrating affection and understanding.
Queenie further refuses to kill Auror Tina Goldstein, instead just wiping her recent memories after extracting information from her. This suggests an enduring love for her sister and an ability to navigate her situation without completely compromising her moral compass. Overall, Queenie remains complex, demonstrating both strength and vulnerability.
Key Factors Impacting Queenie’s Choices
Analyzing Queenie’s motivations reveals she is driven by love and a desire for liberation, rather than sinister ambitions. But what factors drove her to end up in such desperate circumstances? Her story arc highlights important context about the oppressive environment she faces as both a woman and magician in 1920s wizarding America.
Women’s Restricted Freedom in the 1920s
The 1920s was still an era of very limited options for women, both in the magical and No-Maj worlds. Queenie would have faced enormous restrictions and judgement as an unmarried woman in a relationship with a No-Maj man. The expectations and norms of 1920s society heavily delimited what choices were available to Queenie as she tried to navigate her love for Jacob.
Oppressive Laws Against Wizard/No-Maj Relationships
On top of the general sexism and patriarchal norms of 1920s America, the magical community Queenie lives in imposes even more severe restrictions on her freedom. MACUSA’s laws expressly forbid romantic involvement between wizards and No-Majs. This racism and discrimination severely limits who Queenie is allowed to love and forces her relationship with Jacob to be hidden.
Grindelwald’s Seductive Rhetoric of Freedom
In this context of oppression, Grindelwald’s speeches about liberating wizards from hiding and building a new world order where Queenie and Jacob could be together openly prove seductive. Although Grindelwald is manipulative, to an oppressed person desperately in love his words ring of hope. The systemic injustices of MACUSA pushed Queenie directly into Grindelwald’s orbit.
Is Redemption Possible for Queenie?
Given her complex motivations and retained humanity, is redemption still possible for Queenie? An analysis of her character arc and potential pathways suggests hope remains for her to abandon Grindelwald and return to the side of good.
Queenie’s Moral Compass Could Reject Grindelwald’s Violence
Grindelwald’s extremism and willingness to murder could ultimately alienate Queenie. As a deeply caring person, she may realize Grindelwald takes his ambitions too far. Queenie refused to kill her own sister—she is unlikely to have the stomach for mass violence against innocents. Her innate empathy makes her poorly matched with Grindelwald’s cruelty in the long-run.
Tina Could Reach Out With Forgiveness and Understanding
Queenie retains love for her sister Tina. While Tina is furious at Queenie’s betrayal, she could potentially break through to Queenie by offering her unconditional love. As her only remaining family, Tina understands Queenie’s motivations while still upholding morality. If she can find it within herself to forgive Queenie, she could open the door for redemption.
Jacob’s Love Could Anchor Queenie to the Light
Jacob Kowalski’s hopeful and grounded nature balances Queenie’s volatility. His enduring care for her provides an emotional lifeline tying her to human goodness. If Jacob remains steadfast in his love but firm on moral standards, he could compel her to leave Grindelwald and steer her incredible magic toward the light.
Hints at Uncertainty About Her Path
Brief moments in Crimes of Grindelwald hint that Queenie already harbors some doubt about the side she has chosen. When Grindelwald violently kills one of his own followers, Queenie appears unsettled. As she witnesses more of Grindelwald’s cruelty firsthand, she may recognize that he is not the freedom fighter she thought he was. Queenie was deeply upset upon realizing she had been used to hurt her sister. Her reactions reveal she is already having doubts about staying loyal to such a sinister leader.
Conclusion
Queenie Goldstein’s defection to Grindelwald’s side in Crimes of Grindelwald shocks fans who expected her to remain a force for good. However, an analysis of Queenie’s motivations shows she is driven by a desperate desire for love and freedom, not evil intent. Systemic oppression and discrimination drove her into Grindelwald’s arms, where his promises of a new order offered hope. Despite being led astray into serving sinister ends, Queenie retains her empathy and love. There remains hope for her redemption, if those who care for her can break through and anchor her to her moral compass. Queenie’s story arc emphasizes how oppression and marginalization push people to extremes. But if society evolves to be more open and just, those who have fallen could once again rise toward the light.
