In October 2020, Netflix released an original series called The Queens Gambit. There is only one season of the show released so far, however there is talk of another season coming out soon. The show takes place during the late 1950’s through 1960’s. It starts with the main character, Beth, an 8-year-old who is in an orphanage. The orphanage, however, gives the girls tranquilizers to keep them calm. During her time there, she makes friends with the janitor, and he teaches her how to play chess. They both soon learn that Beth is an amazing chess player, and it is all she thinks about. At the age of 13, she gets adopted by a couple from Lexington. Shortly after Beth moves in with them, she starts entering chess competitions. She is a 13-year-old girl playing against snobby men who are much older than she is. They did not think Beth had a chance, but she won the whole competition. From then on, she would travel all around the country, and even the world, to compete and kept winning. Throughout the show she has many encounters she faces and overcomes, which leads up to when Beth competes in the World Championship at the end of the show and wins.
Beth starts the show with nothing. She doesn’t know who she is or what she wants to do with her life. In the orphanage the staff was trying to stop that from happening. They used their power over the girls to surprise them and stop them from being their creative 8-year-old selves. The girls would become addicted and later in Beth’s life and through chess competitions it was something she had to work through. What I think helped Beth find her identity the most was the men she competed against. Everyone looked down upon her. Especially because during this time no other girls or women played chess. It was a man’s game. She was also in a lower social class than these men in the beginning. She didn’t have the appropriate clothes for contest, and she would also be judged because of that. The more games she won the more people started to respect her. She would win cash prizes and created a name for herself. She made friends with other well-respected chess players, and soon everyone in the chess community knew who she was.
What is important to take away from Beth’s story and journey is to never let anyone’s opinion stop you from being the best version of yourself. She overcame gender inequality, which was a huge deal especially during this time. After coming from nothing, she was able to make a living for herself and take care of her mother while traveling. She found her identity and grew as a person which is something we all can admire.
Frank, S., & Scott, A. (Writers). The Queens Gambit. (Season 1) 2020. Netflix.