An example from Chinese literature and traditional history is Daji.Įarly Western culture to the 19th century Historical examples from classical times include Cleopatra and Messalina, as well as the biblical figures Delilah, Jezebel, and Salome. Ancient mythical or legendary examples include Inanna, Lilith, Circe, Medea, Clytemnestra, Lesbia, Tamamo no Mae, and Visha Kanyas. The femme fatale archetype exists in the culture, folklore and myths of many cultures. The divine femme fatale of Hindu mythology, Apsara Mohini is described to have enchanted gods, demons and sages alike. Femmes fatales appear in James Bond films. In American early 20th-century films, a femme fatale character was referred to as a vamp, a reference to The Vampire, Philip Burne-Jones's 1897 painting, and Rudyard Kipling's later 1897 poem, and the 1909 play and 1915 film A Fool There Was.įemale mobsters (including Italian-American Mafia or Russian Mafia) have been portrayed as femmes fatales in films noir. A younger or underage version of a femme fatale is called a fille fatale, from the French phrase for 'deadly girl'. She may also be (or imply that she is) a victim, caught in a situation from which she cannot escape. She may also make use of some subduing weapon such as sleeping gas, a modern analog of magical powers in older tales. In some cases, she uses lies or coercion rather than charm. In many cases, her attitude towards sexuality is lackadaisical, intriguing, or frivolous. A femme fatale tries to achieve her hidden purpose by using feminine wiles such as beauty, charm, or sexual allure. The term originates from the French phrase femme fatale, which means 'deadly woman' or 'lethal woman'. Femmes fatales are typically villainous, or at least morally ambiguous, and always associated with a sense of mystification, and unease. Her ability to enchant, entice and hypnotize her victim with a spell was in the earliest stories seen as verging on supernatural hence, the femme fatale today is still often described as having a power akin to an enchantress, seductress, witch, having power over men. She is an archetype of literature and art. That would be my definition of a maneater.Femmes fatales were standard fare in hardboiled crime stories in 1930s pulp fiction.Ī femme fatale ( / ˌ f ɛ m f ə ˈ t æ l/ or / ˌ f ɛ m f ə ˈ t ɑː l/ French: ), sometimes called a maneater or vamp, is a stock character of a mysterious, beautiful, and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising, deadly traps. Because of that, she can have her pick and it takes much more to whoo her or get her.She's the total package, even with a little attitude when needed. I also think it's the type of girl who walks into a room with total confidence and all eyes are on her and she knows it. I don't think of some women who is a ***** or gold digger defines for me what a maneater is. It would most likely be the best sex you've ever had. But if they do let you hit it, you'll never forget it. Meaning, marry etc.Being easy is the opposite trait. Who can kick you to the curb in a heartbeat with no regret. When I think of a maneater, I think of a women who gives very little emotionally. I'm not so sure I'm sold on that definition.I think for every person is a different interpretation to what one is. Someone who uses men a hot woman with ulterior motives.

Maneater is basically a status wh*re, or a gold digger.

Maneater meaning