Overview

The story of Samson and Delilah in Judges 16 has been studied and retold over the centuries by biblical interpreters, artists, musicians, filmmakers and writers. Within these scholarly and cultural retellings, Delilah is frequently fashioned as the quintessential femme fatale — the shamelessly seductive ‘fatal woman’ whose sexual treachery ultimately leads to Samson’s downfall. Yet these ubiquitous portrayals of Delilah as femme fatale tend to eclipse the many other viable readings of her character that lie, underexplored, within the ambiguity-laden narrative of Judges 16 — interpretations that offer alternative and more sympathetic portrayals of her biblical persona. In Reimagining Delilah’s Afterlives as Femme Fatale, Caroline Blyth guides readers through an in-depth exploration of Delilah’s afterlives as femme fatale in both biblical interpretation and popular culture, tracing the social and historical factors that may have inspired them. She then considers alternative afterlives for Delilah’s character, using as inspiration both the Judges 16 narrative and a number of cultural texts which deconstruct traditional understandings of the femme fatale, thereby inviting readers to view this iconic biblical character in new and fascinating lights.

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9780567688026

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Reviews

Blyth offers an erudite and informative inspection of the ways in which the character of Delilah has been received and transformed by later interpreters. I would recommend her book to anyone who is interested in contributing productively to issues of gender equity and biblical interpretation. * Biblical Theology Bulletin * [T]he most refreshing element of Blyth's work is her careful attention to distinctions between the putative threats embodied by Delilah as femme fatale in each specific context of a cultural retelling, which makes Blyth's reception history of Delilah's afterlives far more nuanced than any rote catalog of interpretations. * Religious Studies Review * This book is a fascinating study of a contemporary cultural icon and its helpful role in leading us to understand Judg 16. * Bulletin of Biblical Research * The book offers an important contribution to the wider discussion about gender stereotypes in engaging the image of Delilah as femme fatale, thus creating room for a different view and appreciation of this image rather than discarding it. * Biblische Notizen *

This book is a fascinating study of a contemporary cultural icon and its helpful role in leading us to understand Judg 16. * Bulletin of Biblical Research *

Author Information

Caroline Blyth is Lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

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