Why have women so often been portrayed as monsters in literature, and what do those representations reveal about historical ideas of gender, power, and morality?
Sandra Huaringa from University College London explores monsters in early modern Spanish theatre, examining how female characters were frequently represented through monstrous imagery and compared to mythological figures such as sirens and Lamia.
Focusing on plays from the 16th and 17th centuries, Sandra combines classical theory with post-structuralist approaches to better understand how ideas of gender, power, and morality were constructed within these works.
The conversation also explores how these historical portrayals continue to resonate today, and how Sandra hopes her research can support new interpretations and performances of early modern Spanish theatre for contemporary audiences. She reflects on the importance of making these plays more visible in both Spanish-speaking and English-speaking contexts, while encouraging wider discussion around the representation of women as “monstrous” figures in art and literature.
This is a Research Podcasts production.
You can access a transcript of this conversation here.
Episode Credits:
Presenter and Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts
Guests: Sandra Huaringa Niño, University College London
Editor: Anton Jarvis, Research Podcasts
Music: Podcast Interview Intro Music by Dmitrii Spis, Pixabay
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