A femme fatale is a stock character in literature, film, and art, typically portrayed as a seductive and alluring woman who uses her charm and sexuality to manipulate and control men. The term “femme fatale” is French, and literally means “fatal woman.”
Characteristics of a femme fatale include:
Sexuality and allure: The femme fatale is often depicted as being highly attractive and sexually confident, using her physical appeal to seduce and control men.
Manipulation and deceit: She is often portrayed as being cunning and manipulative, using her charm and intellect to get what she wants, regardless of the cost to others.
Power and independence: The femme fatale is often portrayed as a strong, independent woman who is not afraid to take control of her own destiny.
Examples of femme fatale characters in literature, film, and art include:
The character of Carmen in Prosper Mérimée’s novella Carmen
The character of Phyllis Dietrichson in Billy Wilder’s film Double Indemnity
The character of Gilda in Charles Vidor’s film Gilda
The character of Mrs. Danvers in Daphne Du Maurier’s novel Rebecca
It’s worth noting that the archetype of the Femme Fatale is often criticized for its depiction of women as manipulative, deceitful and dangerous, and reinforces the stereotype of women being only as valuable as their physical appearance and sexual appeal.
What Is A Femme Fatale?
A femme fatale is a stock character in literature, film, and art, typically portrayed as a seductive and alluring woman who uses her charm and sexuality to manipulate and control men.
The term “femme fatale” is French, and literally means “fatal woman.” The archetype of the femme fatale is often characterized by her beauty, charm, and intelligence, as well as her ability to manipulate and control men through her sexuality.
She is often depicted as a mysterious and powerful figure, who leads men to their downfall through her seduction and deceit.
The femme fatale is a popular trope in noir fiction, film noir, and other forms of popular culture, and is often seen as a symbol of the dangers and temptations of the modern world.
The archetype of the Femme Fatale is often criticized for its depiction of women as manipulative, deceitful and dangerous, and reinforces the stereotype of women being only as valuable as their physical appearance and sexual appeal.
Femme Fatale Characteristics
A femme fatale is a stock character in literature, film, and art, typically portrayed as a seductive and alluring woman who uses her charm and beauty to manipulate and deceive those around her, often for personal gain. Some common characteristics of a femme fatale include:
Sexual attractiveness and allure
Confidence and self-assurance
Intelligence and wit
Manipulative and deceitful behavior
A tendency to play with the emotions of others
A dark or mysterious past
A sense of danger or danger associated with her.
However, it is important to note that this portrayal of women has been criticized for being one-dimensional and perpetuating negative stereotypes.
Femme Fatale Characters
Femme fatale characters have been featured in many works of literature, film, and art throughout history. Some examples include:
In literature: The character of Delilah in the Bible’s Book of Judges, who betrays the Israelite leader Samson and causes his downfall, is considered one of the earliest examples of the femme fatale archetype.
Similarly, the character of Bathsheba in the Bible’s 2 Samuel is also seen as a seductive woman who causes the downfall of King David.
In film noir of the 1940s and 1950s, the femme fatale character was a common trope, often portrayed by actresses such as Barbara Stanwyck, Lauren Bacall, and Ava Gardner.
Examples include the characters of Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity and Brigid O’Shaughnessy in The Maltese Falcon.
In more recent film, examples of femme fatale characters include the character of Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, the character of Mal in Inception and the character of Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
It’s worth noting that the term “Femme Fatale” is often associated with a negative portrayal of women, and that these characters are often criticized for perpetuating the stereotype of women as manipulative and deceitful.
Femme Fatale Examples
Femme fatale characters have been featured in many works of literature, film, and art throughout history. Here are some examples:
In literature: The character of Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, who urges her husband to commit murder in order to gain power, is considered one of the most famous examples of the femme fatale archetype.
Similarly, the character of Emma Bovary in Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary is also seen as a seductive woman who causes the downfall of her husband.
In film noir of the 1940s and 1950s, the femme fatale character was a common trope, often portrayed by actresses such as Barbara Stanwyck, in Double Indemnity, Lauren Bacall, in The Big Sleep, and Ava Gardner, in The Killers.
In more recent film, examples of femme fatale characters include the character of Gilda in Gilda and the character of Catwoman in Batman Returns.
In TV series, the character of Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones, is considered a Femme Fatale as she uses her charm and beauty to manipulate and deceive those around her, often for personal gain.
It’s worth noting that the term “Femme Fatale” is often associated with a negative portrayal of women, and that these characters are often criticized for perpetuating the stereotype of women as manipulative and deceitful.
Contemporary Femme Fatale Characters
A Femme Fatale is a stock character in fiction, particularly in crime dramas and film noir, that is a seductive and mysterious woman who leads men into danger and disaster.
Here are a few examples of contemporary Femme Fatale characters in popular media:
Lisbeth Salander in the Millennium series by Stieg Larsson and the 2011 film adaptation “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
Domino Harvey in the 2005 film “Domino”
Beatrix Kiddo (The Bride) in the Kill Bill series (2003-2004)
Jordan Belfort’s wife, Naomi Lapaglia, in the 2013 film “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Ava Lord in the Sin City series of graphic novels and the 2005 film adaptation
Elizabeth Comstock in the BioShock Infinite (2013)
Amanda Woodward in the Melrose Place TV series (1992-1999)
Carrie Mathison in the Homeland TV series (2011-2020)
Note that these are just a few examples, and there are many other femme fatale characters in contemporary media.
The Femme Fatale In Traditional Film Noir
In traditional film noir, the Femme Fatale is a recurring character archetype. She is often portrayed as a seductive and mysterious woman who uses her charm and beauty to manipulate and control the men around her.
The Femme Fatale is typically a criminal or a criminal’s accomplice, and her actions often lead the male protagonist into danger and disaster.
Some of the most iconic examples of the Femme Fatale in traditional film noir include:
Phyllis Dietrichson in the 1944 film “Double Indemnity”
Brigid O’Shaughnessy in the 1941 film “The Maltese Falcon”
Gilda Mundson Farrell in the 1946 film “Gilda”
Vera Rivkin in the 1946 film “The Big Sleep”
Cora Smith in the 1950 film “Out of the Past”
Kitty Collins in the 1946 film “Mildred Pierce”
Ann Savage in the 1944 film “Detour”
Barbara Stanwyck in the 1944 film “Double Indemnity”
These characters often represented the darker side of femininity, and their actions often subverted traditional gender roles and challenged societal expectations of women.
What Is A Femme Fatale In Noir Today?
In contemporary media, the Femme Fatale archetype has evolved and can be found in various forms and interpretations.
While the traditional Femme Fatale in film noir was often a criminal or a criminal’s accomplice, in contemporary media, the Femme Fatale can also be a strong, independent woman who operates outside of the law or traditional societal expectations.
In contemporary noir, the Femme Fatale can be seen as a more complex and nuanced character. She is often portrayed as a strong, independent woman who uses her intelligence, wit, and charm to navigate a dangerous and corrupt world.
Some examples of the Femme Fatale in contemporary noir include:
Tricia Helfer’s character, Charlotte Morgan, in the TV series “Battlestar Galactica”
Robin Wright’s character, Claire Underwood, in the TV series “House of Cards”
Emily Blunt’s character, Emily Nelson, in the 2018 film “A Quiet Place”
Charlize Theron’s character, Lorraine Broughton, in the 2017 film “Atomic Blonde”
Gillian Anderson’s character, Stella Gibson, in the TV series “The Fall”
In these examples, the Femme Fatale is portrayed as a strong, complex, and multi-dimensional character who is not necessarily a criminal or a criminal’s accomplice, but rather a woman who uses her intelligence, wit and charm to navigate a dangerous and corrupt world.
What Is a Femme Fatale – Wrapping Up
A Femme Fatale is a stock character archetype in fiction, particularly in crime dramas and film noir, that is a seductive and mysterious woman who leads men into danger and disaster.
The Femme Fatale is often portrayed as a strong, independent woman who uses her charm, beauty, and intelligence to manipulate and control the men around her.
In traditional film noir, the Femme Fatale is often a criminal or a criminal’s accomplice.
However, in contemporary media, the Femme Fatale can also be a strong, independent woman who operates outside of the law or traditional societal expectations, and is often portrayed as a more complex and nuanced character.
