Fleabag: Decoding the mystery behind Phoebe Waller-Bridge's unnamed protagonist

While the main character boldly asserts their name and identity in every show, Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag has an unnamed protagonist.

For people who still haven't noticed, BBC's British comedy series Fleabag has an unnamed protagonist, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

This creative decision has led to much debate, speculation, and arguments because the absence of a proper name for the character ends up becoming the biggest marker of her identity. The title becomes synonymous with the protagonist itself, which loosely translates to 'a dirty or shabby animal or person'.

The unnamed protagonist in Bridge's Fleabag becomes an enigmatic anomaly, a genius tool with which the creator explores the themes of identity, guilt, and grief. In choosing not to name her protagonist, Phoebe Waller-Bridge prevents her categorisation as just a character and blurs the line between her and the audience.

More on this in our story.

*Disclaimer- This article is based on the author's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.*

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Fleabag: Exploring how Phoebe Waller-Bridge's unnamed protagonist is symbolic of her inner chaos and disorientation

While we spend almost two seasons with Phoebe Waller-Bridge's protagonist, we don't learn her name. Even when she actively breaks the fourth wall and lets the audience in on her most private thoughts, we are unaware of her basic identity.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the main character of her story, yet she doesn't have a name in the show, which shows her identity crisis and inner chaos. From the moment Fleabag starts, she is in her own chaotic world, constantly hiding behind sarcasm and witty remarks.

Her need to break the fourth wall with the audience highlights her loneliness, as she is surrounded by many people, but is largely invisible to them. While Bridge's character does not formally introduce herself to the audience or anyone, no other character calls her by her name.

Her father or even her sister never once called her by name in Fleabag, which again highlights her invisibility in her own family. While it is clear that Phoebe Waller-Bridge consciously chose not to name her protagonist, she used it as a plot device to expose her duality and give the character subtext, as she discussed in an interview with Decider:

''I also wanted something that would create an immediate subtext for the character...Fleabag, gives the subtext of “Fleabaggy-ness.” Then presents herself so…nice hair, lipstick, coat…like, nailed it. She looks like she’s got stuff together, and yet her name betrays the subtext of her.''

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The unnamed protagonist is a projection of her guilt and insecurities

While Phoebe Waller-Bridge's protagonist hides behind her chic trench coats, edgy hairstyle, and bold red lipstick, we learn the duality of her chaotic character as the show progresses. The title of the show (and her identity) becomes almost ironic to the character as it exposes her vulnerability.

When the protagonist's secret about her best friend Boo is exposed, she finally gets some subtext and we learn the origin of her insecurities and guilt. One of the few characters who has a name in the show and saw Fleabag for who she was, Boo was her best friend but she ended up betraying her by sleeping with her boyfriend.

That is also one of the main reasons that contributed to Boo's su*cide and the protagonist's guilt, which continues to gnaw on her throughout the two seasons.

In choosing not to name the character, Phoebe Waller-Bridge never redeems her character from this guilt and never frees her from this chaotic life. She continues to inhabit this liminal space, which the audience also becomes privy to, but she remains an enigma even after the show concludes.

Talking to Vanity Fair, Phoebe Waller-Bridge revealed how she wanted her character to be a mystery, and she achieved that flawlessly. It is very rare to see a character so unhinged towards the audience and still manage to sustain that fictional facade.

However, Phoebe Waller-Bridge's protagonist did, and that speaks volumes about her creative genius.

Many people, especially women, relate to the unnamed protagonist and see themselves in all her messiness and chaos. Bridge achieved this personal connection with the audience by removing the layer of name and thus identity between the character and the audience, which made them connect with her.

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