Femme fatale

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A femme fatale ( FEM fə-TA(H)L, French: [fam fatal]; lit. 'fatal woman'), sometimes called a maneater, Mata Hari, or vamp, is an archetype in literature and art and a stock character. The individual is often depicted as a mysterious, beautiful, and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising or deadly traps. Her ability to enchant, entice and hypnotize her victims with a spell was seen in the earliest stories as verging on supernatural; hence, the femme fatale is often described as having a power over men at the level of a seductress, enchantress, or even witch. Femmes fatales, typically villainous or at least morally ambiguous, aim to evoke a sense of mystification and unease. The term "femme fatale" originates from the French phrase femme fatale, which means 'deadly woman' or 'lethal woman'. A femme fatale tries to achieve her hidden purpose by using feminine wiles such as beauty, charm, or sexual allure. In many cases, her attitude towards sexuality...

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