Dorado-Sánchez, Adriana E.

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    The r/evolution of the Victorian femme fatale
    (2016) Dorado-Sánchez, Adriana E.; Batra, Nandita; College of Arts and Sciences - Arts; Irizarry, José; Vicente, Nancy V.; Department of English; Cruzado, Ivette
    The focus of this thesis is to examine the construction of femme fatale representations of nineteenth century England, particularly in mid- Victorian to fin-de-siècle art and literature, thus tracing radical and significant social and historical changes of the century and how these affect the femme fatale construction, image, and interpretation. There was great emphasis on the discourse of sexuality during this period, particularly the questions revolving feminine sexuality and which gender would prevail in the competition for power. However, Thackeray, Le Fanu, and Wilde reflect personal critiques of the patriarchal system through their femmes fatales, Becky Sharp, Carmilla, and Salomé. Patriarchal ideologies about gender identity and norms are exposed to be but mechanisms for normalizing an individual according to their sex. Viewed under a feminist scope, gender represents a set of behavior rules imposed by patriarchal institutions that determine the course of how society works, which are all subverted by the femme fatale; therefore provoking chaos and proving gendered norm inadequacies. Therefore the image of the femme fatale becomes an ideological figure resulting from the social changes of particular moments during the nineteenth century when the patriarchal infrastructure felt threatened, therefore transforming women’s sexuality into a destructive, menacing force. However, a closer analysis on of the power dynamics of sex and sexuality will reveal how being under the male gaze for so long becomes a femme fatale’s advantage, as she exploits her feminine sexuality in order to achieve her evil goals, developing survival skills and a cold heart; while simultaneously emphasizing how gender is but a performance utilized to be accepted or rejected in society.