A virtual presentation on powerful literary figures vilified in literature and film was held by Assistant Professor Orquidea Morales, American Studies/Media and Communications, and Assistant Professor Chelsea Shields-Mas, History and Philosophy on October 28th.
Shields-Mas started out by briefly explaining the Old English epic poem Beowulf, more specifically talking about the character of Grendel’s mother, a creature like woman of strength and power who was described as a “hell dame,” but never by an actual name. This was intentional to “other” her because of her living outside on the fringes of society, something unheard of in the Anglo-Saxon Medieval era where communities were all anyone had.
Professor Shields-Mas enthusiastically explained that even after Grendel’s mother nearly kills Beowulf in an act of revenge, something acceptable in medieval society, he downplays how fierce the battle was because she is a woman. When he leaves, he takes Grendel’s head instead, deeming that the bigger trophy since it is of a man. He then goes to his peers and purposely leaves out great details of Grendel’s mother’s strength.
Morales described the pre- Conquest era Hispanic folklore of La Malinche, sometimes referred to as La Llorona. La Malinche means the “weeping woman” and the story varies, but the most well known narrative is that she was a beautiful woman who bore children out of wedlock. When her husband left her for another woman of better financial standing, she drowned their children.
She then is transformed into a type of siren, or ghosts that roam around bodies of water, dragging kids and adults alike under the water into a murky grave if out late at night. While many fear her, she was seen as empowering to the Chicana feminism movement. Chicana feminists are those who are native of Mexico and seek liberation from sexism and racism. Morales said that it’s the agency La Malinche has that makes her powerful and thus a terror to men; she cannot be controlled and is thus “othered” like Grendel’s mother.
Both speakers made mention that it is the assumption that women’s abilities are going to be weaker than men’s, that makes women overtaking men in stories so compelling. Most have their guard down when they shouldn’t because of this assumption.
The event was organized by Assistant Professor Jacqueline Emery of the English Department.
There is a new Women and Gender Studies 20 credit Minor available to students. More information on this can be found at https://www.oldwestbury.edu/
