Quote by Camille Anna Paglia
Elizabeth Taylor is pre-feminist woman. This is the source of her continuing greatness and relevance. She wields the sexual power that feminism cannot explain and has tried to destroy. Through stars like Taylor, we sense the world-disordering impact of legendary women like Delilah, Salome, and Helen of Troy. Feminism has tried to dismiss the femme fatale as a misogynist libel, a hoary clich?. But the femme fatale expresses women's ancient and eternal control of the sexual realm. The specter of the femme fatale stalks all men's relations with women.
Summary
This quote suggests that Elizabeth Taylor, a famous actress, represents a pre-feminist archetype of a powerful woman. It argues that her enduring appeal arises from her ability to harness a sexual power that feminism fails to comprehend and aims to dismantle. The quote draws comparisons between Taylor and historic mythical figures associated with seductive and alluring women, suggesting that feminism has downplayed the significance of femme fatales in society. Ultimately, it claims that the femme fatale's influence looms over interactions between men and women.