The Femme Fatale in American Literature By Ghada Sasa

The Grolier International Dictionary defines the femme fatale as “a woman whose seductive charms may lead a man into compromising or dangerous situations” (483). The femme fatale in American naturalism is like any typical femme fatale—a seductive woman who displays power over a male character and who brings about change and destruction to the male characters she encounters. However, the femme fatale in American naturalism is not deadly. Only one of the male victims discussed in this study ends up dead, namely, Hurstwood in Sister Carrie. None of the femmes fatales discussed in this book is a murderess. However, all of these dangerous women are (in)directly responsible for the downfall of their male counterparts. But what distinguishes the femme fatale in American naturalism is that she ends up destroying herself. All of the femmes fatales discussed in this study are partially responsible for their downfalls and ultimate defeat.

Although the archetype of the femme fatale does not have an accurate definition, some common features of the femme fatale can be established. First of all, this woman embodies an unusual and fascinating beauty which sets her apart from other women and allows her to easily attract men. Because of this, the femme fatale employs her beauty to influence and entrap male characters. She often has a majestic, provocative aura about her, and her physical appearance is uniquely captivating. She generally has pale or white skin with a translucent quality which symbolizes an inexplicable, ethereal presence. The color of her hair and eyes is typically dark, contrasting with the skin’s paleness. Her eyes are captivating to the male; also, her hands fascinate the male character, who notices their positions and movements. The colors red and black are symbolically used to represent the type’s power. Because of her typical movement outside the boundaries of convention, she creates controversy in society; usually some characters in the literary work oppose the course of action that she undertakes.