Venomous Woman: Fear of the Female in Literature

Venomous Woman: Fear of the Female in Literature
ISBN-10
0313259194
ISBN-13
9780313259197
Category
Literary Criticism / General
Pages
183
Language
English
Published
1987-11-11
Publisher
Bloomsbury Academic
Author
Margaret Hallissy

Description

This work demonstrates the ways in which a complex of ideas with a misogynistic basis relates to the image of the venomous woman--the woman who uses poisons or potions, who has a relationship with a venomous animal, or who is herself poisonous. Hallissy suggests that the venomous woman is an image of feminine power reflected in masculine fear. The study concentrates on periods when ignorance of the medicinal effects of poisons exaggerated the potency of this image. It examines works of literature which span a large period of time but are linked by this persistent image. Through its examination of the venomous women, it clarifies the function of misogyny as an expression of masculine fear.

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