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Virginia R. Degner is the author of romantic suspense novels with murder and mayhem, centering on the grief and rage of women who’ve suffered a lot. No fury like a woman scorned, as Shakespeare said, but why do righteously furious women attract readers? Especially when the women in question are also entangled in the throes of romance?

From the vengeful wrath of Medea to the calculated cruelty of Cersei Lannister, the angry female character holds an allure that cannot be rightfully denied. But what is it about their rage that resonates so deeply with readers, male and female alike?

No Fury Like a Woman Scorned

Well, perhaps some part of the answer can be found when looking at history. In the past (and, in some unfortunate cases, even now), women have been suppressed, dismissed, and pathologized. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, yes, but very often, this anger was ignored or downplayed. The anger of women was deemed a class lower than the anger of men; however, the reasoning may be ludicrous for such a perspective. As such, in a world where women were constantly denied the right to express their fury in the same way as men, that anger bubbled up beneath and only served to amplify the power of female rage when it finally blew open the gasket.

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This is most evident in literature and film, where women found a space to fully express their pent-up rage and systemically suppressed anger. While much of the scorned woman’s fury was a potent expression of women’s collective frustrations at the great injustice hoisted upon them, it was also a powerful mirror for readers to see themselves in–not only for female readers but for male ones, too! This is what good characterization does; it allows readers of all stripes to vicariously experience the raw and unfiltered emotions of the characters.

And in a world where women (and other people) are often told to be quiet and polite, the scorned woman who dares to be loud, unapologetic, and fiercely herself is extremely appealing.

Between Passion and Fury

While the historic injustice laid to women is more than enough for a good character study, the anger of scorned female characters goes beyond that and is often rooted in a deep sense of betrayal or violation.

One of the appeals of the scorned woman character is that they are a reflection of a profound passion that has been shattered and twisted. What arises from this great devastation is an equally destructive force that reveals the depth of the character’s emotional capacity.

It is simply fascinating to behold such an intensity of feelings; and readers can’t help but be enamored and conflicted by the potential reality of it all, for who hasn’t had their heart broken, wanting to take the world down with them?

Further complicating things is the fine line between passion and fury. The intense emotions that drive these characters to fury are also the same emotions that drive these characters to love with great passion. The portrayal of the scorned woman character reveals to readers that love, hate, desire, and anger–these seemingly contradictory emotions–are deeply intertwined with one another.

Beyond the Stereotype of the Woman Scorned

Of course, the appeal of the scorned woman goes beyond the catharsis that one feels when her fury is given reprieve. All readers quietly crave schadenfreude after all. The intrigue of the scorned woman also lies in the complexity of her character.

When written with adequate competence, these women are not simply one-dimensional villains driven by blind rage. They are often intelligent, resourceful, and fiercely independent–a shadow of ruined potential. Their anger is not a mindless outburst but a calculated response to the circumstances they face.

The scorned woman also challenges the traditional narrative of victimhood. She refuses to be passive and accept her fate–which a lot of women are painfully denied. The scorned woman takes control of her own destiny, even if that means embracing a path of destruction. This agency, this refusal to be defined by her circumstances, is incredibly empowering to a lot of readers who may find themselves in similar, though inexact, circumstances.

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Fraser’s Lady, Without Consent, and more are all books that deal with deeply pro-women ideas, and you can buy one or all of them on this website. Click here to grab a copy now!