Author, as appears in the article.: Russell, Elizabeth

Abstract: When Yevgeny Zamyatin was writing We in 1920, the figure of the 'femme fatale' had reached an apotheosis in Western art, literature and society. The 'femme fatale' had been labelled with the attributes for seduction and the ability and capability to destroy. She was depicted as a woman of beauty blessed with the power to allure but also capable of beguilement, evil and destruction. She was not satisfied with the seduction of her lover, she had to destroy him. She could be remote, cruel or sensuous, evoking desire and reverence, or she could evoke contempt, disgust and even fear in her victim. This product of male fantasy and imagination pervades our literature as the demon lover, witch, sorceress disguised in the raiment and beauty of an angel.

Journal publication year: 1986

Publication Type: ##rt.metadata.pkp.peerReviewed## info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion info:eu-repo/semantics/article