St Mary's Calne
On Wednesday 6th December, the Sixth Form English Society gathered for our first meeting of the year, in which we all came dressed as our favourite female archetypes in literature. From femme fatales in slinky fur coats, witches donned in brooding black capes, enigmatic she-vampires in sweeping cloaks, and melancholy damsels in distress (with lilies in hand!), it’s safe to say that we were greeted with a beautifully diverse mix of iconic female personas pulled straight from the pages of beloved literary masterpieces.
Over the comfort of delicious pizza, we explored the roles of women by sharing extracts from the literature of the past, such as the Countess from Carter’s The Snow Child, the witches from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and the titular characters of both Rossetti's Maude Clare and Le Fanu’s Carmilla. Naturally, we also discussed the relevance of these stereotypes in the present day, due to societal expectations of categorised femininity. Our discussions served as a testament to the power of these captivating female characters to transcend time and still, to this day, have such an enduring impact on our lives.
The evening drew to a close amidst shared pizza slices and stories. It was a thought-provoking and enjoyable night, where we were able to explore interesting literary discussions beyond both the curriculum and the classroom. Overall, it was a wonderful celebration of femininity in English literature, and I'm sure we all left with a far deeper understanding of female archetypes in literature.
Norah, LVI