The Multifaceted Heroine. The Female Archetype in Mythology and Literature

«The Multifaceted Heroine»—a grand study of female images in world culture, in which Harvard professor, cultural theorist and literary scholar Maria Tatar challenges the canonical archetypes described by Joseph Campbell. She analyzes the «heroine's journey» through the landscape of stories to convincingly prove that women are not just mothers, wives, or goddess-patrons of heroes. They can fight, deceive, travel, and tell stories, guided by their own motives and interests, rather than merely complementing and inspiring men. You will learn what heroism is found in Penelope from the «Odyssey» and Scheherazade from the «One Thousand and One Nights», what connects the ancient myths of Philomela and Arachne with the #MeToo movement, and how the phenomenon of Wonder Woman can be explained. The book is full of examples from myths, epic poems, fairy tales, fiction, and cinema, where women become key protagonists, and their unique journeys showcase the diversity and richness of the female experience.