- By Team Bound
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The novel coronavirus has become pervasive in every aspect of our offline and online reality. Since books and movies are always my choice of escape, I imagined how it would be to be quarantined with my favourite fictional characters. Whether you want to imagine yourself alone with one of these characters, or living in a giant underground bunker all together, is entirely up to you. I think they’d all make pretty chill roommates, and each of them brings something special to the table. It’s a complete coincidence that they all turned out to be women!
1. MARY POPPINS FROM ‘MARY POPPINS’
There may be no character more up to the task of prolonged quarantine than Julie Andrews’ Mary Poppins. A magic nanny self-described as “practically perfect in every way,” Poppins’ powers include flight, the ability to enter paintings and a bottomless purse. Personality-wise, Mary Poppins is also one of the most lovable characters in the Disney pantheon, and her charms aren’t just limited to children, as evidenced by her close friendship with Bert the chimney-sweep. Finally, Mary Poppins could function as a top-tier life coach — one who could help me stay focused and motivated throughout the quarantine’s duration.
Mary Poppins could function as a top-tier life coach — one who could help me stay focused and motivated throughout the quarantine’s duration.
2. BRIDGET JONES FROM ‘BRIDGET JONES’ DIARY’
Bridget would be super entertaining and great fun to drink with in the middle of the afternoon. Everyone needs a “quarantini” partner.
Bridget Jones’ Lockdown Diary
April, someday. Calories 4899 when I stopped counting.
Attempted lunges shown by smug fit twat on TV. Obeyed rule to hydrate myself. Three cold coffees with gin thrown in. Gin n Tonic is the quinine thing they say will save us. Feeling better already. Must celebrate Escape from Near Death. Luckily, have one dozen Easter eggs. Chocolate and remaining bottle of gin-quinine. Changed profile pic to me lolling in bed in skimpy nightwear, Saving the World. 9 people liked it, including 8 of my uncles. And me.
3. HERMIONE GRANGER FROM ‘HARRY POTTER’
Hermione is the key to the entire Harry Potter franchise. She’s the glue that holds the whole thing together, the beating heart of the series, and I’d expect her to fill the same role in my little bunker. She’d represent peace and love and a little bit of mischief, and I’d much rather chill with her than Harry himself. A boy wizard is the last person I’d want to be quarantined with. Hermione knows magic herself, so even though she may not know a spell that would work against the coronavirus, I’d be excited to see if she could conjure toilet paper out of thin air. She probably would be trying to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 within 1 week of the quarantine.
Must celebrate Escape from Near Death.
4. SCARLETT O HARA FROM ‘GONE WITH THE WIND’
Okay this is a controversial choice but hear me out, Scarlett kicked ass. She knew what she wanted and she wasn’t afraid to get it! I could use the lockdown to get some great lessons in self confidence from her. Her mantra of “fiddle-dee-dee” or as I translate it, “it is what it is” would be just what I need to deal with a difficult situation. When faced with a situation or conversation she was not particularly happy with, Scarlett would dismiss it with a “fiddle-dee-dee” as if to say: “I hear you, and since we can’t do anything to change that, let’s not dwell and let’s move on.”
Scarlett would dismiss it with a “fiddle-dee-dee” as if to say: “I hear you, and since we can’t do anything to change that, let’s not dwell and let’s move on.”
5. SARA CREW FROM ‘A LITTLE PRINCESS’
First of all Sara told amazing stories, and never whined or complained about anything! She is the epitome of resilience and a generous and kind hearted soul who would boost everyone’s morale during the quarantine. Her pep talks would inject our bunker with so much spirit and motivation.
Rheea Rodrigues Mukherjee is the author of The Body Myth (Unnamed Press /Penguin India 2019) which was shortlisted for the Tata Literature Live First Book Award. Her work has been published and featured in Scroll.in, Southern Humanities Review, Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Vogue India, Out of Print, TBLM, and Bengal Lights, among others. She co-founded Bangalore Writers Workshop in 2012 and currently co-runs Write Leela Write, a Design and Content Laboratory in Bangalore, India. Rheea has an MFA in creative writing from California College of the Arts.
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