Family Responsibilities, Social Traditions, and the Formation of Individual Choices as Reflected in Quinn’s Bridgerton Series

Abstract

This research aims to analyze how family traditions and responsibilities shape individual choices as reflected in Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series. The purpose of this research is to elaborate on family traditions and responsibilities that shape the individual choices of characters in the Bridgerton. The research employs a descriptive qualitative approach, utilizing Social Stratification Theory (Karl Marx and Max Weber), Decision-Making Theory (Herbert A. Simon), and Genetic Structuralism (Lucien Goldmann) as analytical frameworks. Data were collected through close watching and textual analysis of Bridgerton (The Duke and I and The Viscount Who Loved Me), focusing on dialogues, scenes, and character interactions that reflect the influence of family and social hierarchy. The data were analyzed by describing the findings and interpreting them through the chosen theories. The results show that family traditions and social hierarchy play a significant role in limiting individual freedom; characters such as Daphne Bridgerton, Simon Basset, and Anthony Bridgerton are compelled to prioritize family honor and social expectations over personal desires. The research highlights that despite holding high social status, their autonomy remains constrained by societal norms and expectations.