The movie poster of ‘Wonder Woman’ directed by Patty Jenkins features Gal Gadot deflecting bullets using her bracelets in the midst of a battlefield. In the movie, after saving Chris Pine’s character, Steve Trevor, and seeing his World War I-style wristwatch, Diana, played by Gadot, is bewildered by its supposed abilities. Her own bracelets are much more impressive, stretching from her wrist to her elbow and featuring a silver and gold matte finish inspired by ancient Greek armor and American art deco architecture. Along with her bracelets, Diana also has a shield, sword, Lasso of Truth, armband, and bandeau tiara that belonged to Antiope. While her bracelets do indeed deflect bullets, they also have a much bigger mythology. When Diana clashes them together, they form a powerful concussive force field that can thwart attackers. At this moment in the film, Diana is beginning to realize her true powers and seems surprised by the power of her jewelry, as she has yet to realize she is an immortal superhero and a goddess.
When Wonder Woman first discovered the ability to create a concussive forcefield by clashing her bracelets together, it wasn’t fully explained in the movie. Fortunately, various explanations have been given in DC Comics since the character’s creation in 1941 by William Moulton Marston. One theory suggests that the bracelets are infused with Aegis, which comes from the shield of the she-goat who nursed Zeus when he was a baby. This mythology reflects the close connection between Wonder Woman’s story and ancient Greek mythology.
The ladies of Themyscira don a pair of bracelets not only for adornment but as a symbol of their past enslavement at the hands of Hercules and their inability to quell the world’s unrest. Consequently, they migrated to an all-female island where they are safe from harm by Zeus but also remain on high alert in preparation for the potential reappearance of Ares, the deity of war. The situation is multi-faceted and intricate.
Gal Gadot, who plays Wonder Woman in the movie, is often seen wearing all her accessories including a sword, bracelets, bandeau tiara, armband, shield and lasso. The jewels have an interesting backstory as they provide balance to Diana and the Amazons between peace and battles. Originally called the Bracelets of Submission, they were used to control the women’s immense powers and remind them of the importance of love. Legend has it that if these bracelets were removed, the Amazons would become uncontrollable and wild with fury.
The new Wonder Woman movie may include a storyline where Diana, played by Gal Gadot, receives important information about the enemy from Steve Trevor, played by Chris Pine, over the phone. However, the mythology of the character has evolved over time, so it’s uncertain if this scene will make it to the final cut. One interesting moment in the film features Diana attending a formal ball without her bracelets and with her sword cleverly hidden down the back of her dress, as she sets out to confront the embodiment of war in the modern world.
In the movie ‘Wonder Woman’, there is a scene where our protagonist Diana (played by Gal Gadot) is not wearing her iconic bracelets. Instead, she has her sword tucked behind her while she dances with Ludendorff (played by Danny Houston), who is her enemy. There could be several reasons for this absence of bracelets. One possibility is that Diana was focusing all her energy on the fight and did not feel the need to wear them. Alternatively, the costume designer may have felt that the bold jewelry with leather fittings did not complement the formal attire. However, I personally think they would have looked great together. It is also possible that Gal Gadot’s character made a conscious decision to leave the bracelets off for that particular moment, as Wonder Woman is known for making her own choices. Nevertheless, the bracelets make a quick return to her arms. I think this signifies their importance as a symbol of Diana’s fight for peace and her steadfast belief in the power of love. Overall, the symbolism behind Wonder Woman’s jewels adds depth to her character and enhances the overall viewing experience.
