Femme Fatale In La Belle Dame Sans Merci

Aside from the Bible, characters in Greek mythology represent the fatal woman. Specifically, the siren is known for corrupting and leading sailors to death by their songs. The sirens are considered the ultimate version of the femme fatale because of their legendary seductiveness. Their songs are considered irresistible and their voices are like no other (Galbraith 2013). This dangerous character is known as a direct attack on traditional womanhood. In the article, No Place for a Woman, it explains that the femme fatale refuses to play the role of a traditional female character (2008). She will not be a devoted wife or loving mother, and she finds marriage to be confining, loveless, and dull. The classic femme fatale resorts to murder in order to free herself from unbearable relationships with characters that try to control her. According to Sylvia Harvey, these dangerous women are considered prizes, or desirable objects for the men in these stories. In some cases, this character is considered lost and unable to resolve past issues, mostly childhood memories. Their thrill-seeking nature comes from …show more content…
Keats’ La Belle Dame sans Merci is a poem about a femme fatale that uses her beauty to cause destruction. In this poem, the knight tells the story and describes the lady as the object of affection for many of the male figures. They all seem to be interested in the pleasures she can provide, which is an indication of her sexual power. The name of this poem is French and means, the beautiful lady without pity. Similar to the characteristics mentioned, the knight identifies the woman as a supernatural being, one with wild eyes (line 16). Like the image to the left, the dangerous woman uses her eyes as a tool of seduction. In Keats’ poem, the knight falls for her tricks and she becomes the object of his affection. However, he says “I set her on my pacing steed” (line 21) and claims possession of