Judit, una heroína bíblica en el siglo XIX. Dama virtuosa, madre de la patria o mujer fatal

Abstract

This article explores the various interpretations that Judith, the Biblical character, experienced through the 19th century in widely circulated religious works, novels, and plays. These writings evince the transformation of this heroine’s features to adapt them to different audiences and contexts. The Biblical figure of the «strong woman» is transformed, through a domestication of her virtues, to fit other ideals such as «angel of the house». Similarly, her identity shifted into a femme fatale of sorts notably disruptive of the status quo. Both models demonstrate, in sum, her vital role as heroine in the 19th century while pointing at the wide variety of meanings that heroes and heroines adopt throughout history.

Keywords

• judith
• angel of the house
• femme fatale
• biblical literature
• biblical heroes and heroines