La femme fatale : une reconsideration d'un archetype negatif

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The stereotypical figure of the femme fatale as irresistible seductress, who inevitably brings about death, is wellknown. This figure is nevertheless strangely absent from Afrikaans literature. This is what makes the appearanceof the character of Nicolette in André Brink's novel, The Ambassador (1963), so remarkable. Not only is she acomplex femme fatale, she also adds a new dimension to the cliché. The striking similarities between Nicoletteand Kathe, the female protagonist in Henri-Pierre Roché's novel Jules et Jim (1953), justify a comparative studybetween these two novels. Although both of them bring about death, it seems that the presence of these femmefatale characters has positive rather than negative consequences. Contrary to the stereotypical evil temptress,Nicolette and Kathe are more natural, spontaneous and unpredictable – apparently free from the constrictingqualities of the bloodthirsty femme fatale. In this comparative study, the image of the femme fatale isinvestigated through the close examination of its role and function in Jules et Jim and The Ambassador. Byexamining the philosopher René Girard's theories on mimetic desire, violence and sacrifice as well as GeorgesBataille's ideas on eroticism and death, the nature of the femme fatale in these two novels is analysed in order todetermine to what extent the image of the femme fatale as negative archetype could be reconsidered.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University