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The "Most Evil Woman in History": A Dangerous Delusion and a Look at Female Villainy
The title itself – "Most Evil Woman in History" – is inherently problematic. Defining "evil" is a subjective and culturally influenced undertaking, constantly shifting across time and societies. Attributing such a sweeping label to any individual, particularly a woman, risks perpetuating harmful stereotypes and overlooking the complex historical and social contexts that shape individual actions. However, exploring the lives of women who have been historically labelled as "evil" allows us to delve into the darker aspects of human nature, examine power dynamics, and analyze the ways in which history itself can be a biased lens. Instead of focusing on a single individual, this exploration will examine several women whose actions have been widely condemned, offering a nuanced perspective on their lives and the societies that shaped them.
The Dangers of Singular Narratives:
The search for a single "most evil" woman inherently simplifies the multifaceted nature of history and human behavior. It often ignores the systemic issues, such as patriarchal structures, poverty, and political oppression, which can drive individuals to commit horrific acts. Focusing on one woman as the ultimate embodiment of evil risks deflecting attention from the broader societal factors that contribute to violence and cruelty. Furthermore, such narratives often rely on biased historical accounts, often filtered through the lens of the victors, silencing the perspectives of the marginalized and perpetuating damaging stereotypes about women.
Case Study 1: Empress Wu Zetian (624-705 AD) – A Ruler and a Paradox
Empress Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history, remains a controversial figure. While some historians highlight her ruthless ambition and political maneuvering, others emphasize her contributions to the Tang Dynasty's prosperity and her advancements in governance. She was accused of assassinations and other heinous acts, yet she also implemented significant reforms, including improved civil service examinations and promoting meritocracy. This complexity illustrates the difficulty in assigning a single, simplistic moral judgment to any historical figure.
| Positive Aspects | Negative Aspects |
|-------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| Implemented significant economic reforms | Accused of numerous assassinations and conspiracies |
| Improved civil service examinations | Ruled with an iron fist, suppressing dissent |
| Patron of the arts and culture | Critics describe her reign as tyrannical |
| Extended the Tang Dynasty's power and influence | Accused of cruelty and brutality |
Case Study 2: Lucrezia Borgia (1505-1519) – Legend and Reality
Lucrezia Borgia, the daughter of Pope Alexander VI, is another woman whose reputation has been shaped by legend and biased historical accounts. Often portrayed as a seductive and ruthless poisoner, the reality of her life is far more complex. While she was undoubtedly involved in the political machinations of the Renaissance court, her actions were often dictated by the patriarchal structures of the time. Her life serves as a stark reminder of how female agency, even within highly restricted environments, can be misinterpreted and distorted through the lens of male-dominated historical narratives. Recent scholarship suggests her reputation as a poisoner is largely exaggerated.
The Role of Patriarchy in Shaping Narratives
The disproportionate focus on women in discussions of "evil" is inextricably linked to patriarchal structures. Throughout history, women who challenged the established order, defied social norms, or wielded power have often been demonized and villainized. Their actions, even if driven by survival or self-preservation, were often interpreted through the lens of male-defined morality and labeled as "evil" while similar actions by men might be justified or excused.
Analyzing Female Villainy Through a Modern Lens
Modern psychological and sociological analyses can offer a more nuanced understanding of female villainy. Factors like trauma, mental health, and social pressures can contribute to criminal behavior, regardless of gender. Examining these aspects can help us move beyond simplistic morality tales and toward a more comprehensive understanding of the complex motivations driving human action.
Real-Life Applications & Societal Impact:
Understanding the complexities of historical narratives surrounding "evil" women has crucial real-life applications. It helps us:
Deconstruct harmful stereotypes: Recognizing the bias in historical accounts allows us to challenge stereotypes about women and their capacity for violence and cruelty.
Promote critical thinking: Analyzing multiple perspectives and historical sources fosters critical thinking and encourages a more nuanced understanding of the past.
Improve historical accuracy: Challenging biased narratives leads to a more accurate and representative portrayal of history.
Contextualize actions: Understanding the social and political contexts in which these women lived helps us to better contextualize their actions and avoid simplistic moral judgments.
Conclusion:
The search for the "most evil woman in history" is a flawed endeavor. It simplifies complex historical figures and overlooks the broader social and political contexts that shaped their actions. Instead of focusing on a singular "most evil," we should engage in a critical analysis of historical narratives, acknowledging biases and examining the complexities of human behavior, regardless of gender. By understanding the historical and social factors that contributed to the actions of women labeled "evil", we can better understand the past and build a more just and equitable future.
FAQs:
1. Why is it problematic to label someone the "most evil" person? The concept of "evil" is subjective and culturally relative. Such labels simplify complex human beings and their motivations, often overlooking systemic factors.
2. How does gender influence the portrayal of "evil" in history? Patriarchal societies have consistently demonized women who defied social norms or wielded power, often portraying their actions as inherently "evil" while excusing similar actions by men.
3. Are there any modern examples of women whose actions are considered morally reprehensible? Yes, contemporary examples exist, but their actions should be analyzed within their specific contexts, avoiding generalizations and simplistic judgments.
4. How can we ensure a more accurate and unbiased portrayal of women in history? We need to critically examine historical sources, consider diverse perspectives, and challenge existing narratives that perpetuate stereotypes.
5. What is the ultimate takeaway from studying the lives of women labeled "evil"? The takeaway is not to find a single "most evil," but to understand the complexity of human behavior, challenge biased narratives, and appreciate the nuanced interplay between individual actions and societal contexts.
| most evil woman in history: The Most Evil Men and Women in History Miranda Twiss, 2002 Evil is a fact of life. We can see it, not only in the reigns of Stalin and Hitler, but also in everyday crimes like murder, rape and assault -- quite apart from the millions of lives brutalized by political or religious oppression, poverty, disease and starvation ... |
| most evil woman in history: The Most Evil Women in History Shelley Klein, 2003-08 A study of the manifestation of evil in 15 women spanning over 2000 years. |
| most evil woman in history: The Most Evil Women in History Shelley Klein, 2003 |
| most evil woman in history: Bad Girls from History Dee Gordon, 2017-09-30 This “lively” study of female lawbreakers across centuries and cultures is “chock full of disquieting stories and truly twisted personalities” (Booklist). Organized A-to-Z under six categories, this book offers insight into the lives and minds of women in different centuries and different countries, with diverse cultures and backgrounds from the poverty-stricken to royalty, who have defied law and order and social taboos. Read about mistresses, murderers, smugglers, pirates, prostitutes, and fanatics with hearts and souls that feature every shade of black (and gray!). From Cleopatra to Ruth Ellis, from Boudicca to Bonnie Parker, from Lady Caroline Lamb to Moll Cutpurse, from Jezebel to Ava Gardner—as well as less familiar names like Victorian brothel-keeper Mary Jeffries, American gambler and horse thief Belle Starr, and La Voisin, the seventeenth-century Queen of all Witches in France—you’ll find a variety of women from the daring and outrageous to the desperate to the downright evil. Wicked? Misunderstood? Naïve? Foolish? Predatory? Manipulative? Or just rebellious? Read their stories and decide. “[A] rollicking survey of 100 female renegades . . . this compendium of historical trivia is a lot of fun to read.” —Publishers Weekly Includes photos and illustrations |
| most evil woman in history: Hitler's Furies Wendy Lower, 2013 About the participation of German women in World War II and in the Holocaust. |
| most evil woman in history: The Most Evil Dictators in History Shelley Klein, 2004 Herod the great, Genghis Khan, Shaka Zulu, Josep Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Mao Tse-Tung, Anastasio Garcia Somoza, Francois Papa Doc Duvalier, Kim Il Sung, Augusto Ugarte Pinochet, Nicolae Ceausescu, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein, Robert Mugabe. |
| most evil woman in history: Evil Women: Representations within Literature, Culture and Film Robyn Muir, Beatrice Frasl, Christie Marie Lauder, Elizabeth Schreiber-Byers, 2022-04-25 Evil women, who are they really? What are their motives, and how are they remembered and constructed within our culture? Evil Women: Representations within Literature, Culture and Film seeks to interrogate the nature and construction of evil women in the above fields. Through literature, poetry, history, ballads, film and real-life culture, scholars explore how the evil woman has been constructed and, in some cases, erased; the punishment and treatment of evil women; and the way evil women have been portrayed on and off screen through character, narrative and behind the camera development. |
| most evil woman in history: Early Modern Women and the Problem of Evil Jill Graper Hernandez, 2016-05-05 Early Modern Women and the Problem of Evil examines the concept of theodicy—the attempt to reconcile divine perfection with the existence of evil—through the lens of early modern female scholars. This timely volume knits together the perennial problem of defining evil with current scholarly interest in women’s roles in the evolution of religious philosophy. Accessible for those without a background in philosophy or theology, Jill Graper Hernandez’s text will be of interest to upper-level undergraduates as well as graduate students and researchers. |
| most evil woman in history: Wicked Women of Ohio Jane Ann Turzillo, 2018 The Buckeye State produced its share of wicked women. Tenacious madam Clara Palmer contended with constant police raids during the 1880s and '90s. Only her death could shut the doors of her gilded bordello in Cleveland. Failed actress Mildred Gillars left for Europe right before World War II. Because she fell in love with the wrong man, she wound up peddling Nazi propaganda on the radio as Axis Sally. Volatile Hester Foster was already doing time at the Ohio State Penitentiary when she bashed in the head of a fellow inmate with a shovel. The sinister Anna Marie Hahn dosed at least five elderly Cincinnati men with arsenic and croton oil and then watched them die in agony while pretending to nurse them back to health. Award-winning crime writer Jane Ann Turzillo recounts the stories of Ohio's most notorious vixens, viragoes and villainesses--Back cover. |
| most evil woman in history: Evil Women John Marlowe, 2017-07-11 Many people find it impossible to believe women are capable of committing brutal murders, but this book shows otherwise. Katherine Knight donned a black negligee before stabbing her lover John Price 37 times, then serving up his corpse for dinner with baked potatoes, pumpkin and all the trimmings. Sue Basso became supermarket packer Buddy Musso's 'lady love', but his dreams of happiness were shredded when she and her friends tortured him to death for a paltry $15,000 life insurance policy. Shelly Michael injected her husband with a drug that led to death by slow suffocation, then she set their house on fire. Each of the cases documented here makes for a chilling read, proving that evil transcends the sexes. |
| most evil woman in history: Monsters Simon Sebag Montefiore, John Bew, Martyn Frampton, 2008 Monsters presents, in chronological order, grimly fascinating profiles of 101 notorious and profoundly sinister individuals whose actions have one thing in common - they have had a baleful and blood-soaked impact on the annals of world history. From Attila the Hun to Basil the Bulgar Slayer, from Pedro the Cruel to Ivan the Terrible, and from Richard III to Saddam Hussein, Monsters is a devilishly compelling gallery of history's greatest ghouls. |
| most evil woman in history: Female Serial Killers Peter Vronsky, 2007-08-07 In this fascinating book, Peter Vronsky exposes and investigates the phenomenon of women who kill—and the political, economic, social and sexual implications buried with each victim. How many of us are even remotely prepared to imagine our mothers, daughters, sisters or grandmothers as fiendish killers? For centuries we have been conditioned to think of serial murderers and psychopathic predators as men—with women registering low on our paranoia radar. Perhaps that’s why so many trusting husbands, lovers, family friends, and children have fallen prey to “the female monster.” From history’s earliest recorded cases of homicidal females to Irma Grese, the Nazi Beast of Belsen, from Britain’s notorious child-slayer Myra Hindley to ‘Honeymoon Killer’ Martha Beck to the sensational cult of Aileen Wournos—the first female serial killer-as-celebrity—to cult killers, homicidal missionaries, and our pop-culture fascination with the sexy femme fatale, Vronsky not only challenges our ordinary standards of good and evil but also defies our basic accepted perceptions of gender role and identity. INCLUDES PHOTOGRAPHS |
| most evil woman in history: Serial Killers: The World's Most Evil Nigel Blundell, 2010-11-10 One hundred years of the most depraved criminal minds—from H. H. Holmes and Ted Bundy to John Wayne Gacy, Ian Brady, and Myra Hindley. Their monikers have become part of the true crime lexicon: among them, the Moors Murders; the Hillside Strangler; Killer Clown; Son of Sam; the Love Slave Killers; the Scorecard Killer; and the BTK Strangler. On a scale of evil, they are the world’s worst serial murderers with a propensity for sadism and torture that is beyond the pale. What turned seemingly ordinary members of society into sick slayers? How did they justify their heinous deeds? And how did they get away with murder? For answers, true crime journalist Nigel Blundell looks behind the headlines to delve into the minds of monsters: David Parker Ray an “average working guy” with a torture chamber in his backyard; Fred and Rose West, married serial killers who counted their own children among their victims; Ivan Milat, a ritual killer who hunted backpackers in Australia; Gerald and Charlene Gallego, a sadistic couple who cruised Sacramento with kidnapping and murder in mind; and former Marines Leonard Lake and Charles Ng, who videotaped the darkest depths of their depravity in their secluded cabin in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Discover the truth behind the unspeakable crimes in this “anthology of evil . . . you can’t put down” (Dr. Michael Stone, forensic psychiatrist). |
| most evil woman in history: Legends, Monsters, or Serial Murderers? Dirk C. Gibson, 2012-02-14 Covering figures ranging from Catherine Monvoisin to Vlad the Impaler, and describing murders committed in ancient aristocracies to those attributed to vampires, witches, and werewolves, this book documents the historic reality of serial murder. The majority of serial murder studies support the consensus that serial murder is essentially an American crime—a flawed assumption, as the United States has existed for less than 250 years. What is far more likely is that the perverse urge to repeatedly and intentionally kill has existed throughout human history, and that a substantial percentage of serial murders throughout ancient times, the middle ages, and the pre-modern era were attributed to imaginative surrogate explanations: dragons, demons, vampires, werewolves, and witches. Legends, Monsters, or Serial Murderers? The Real Story Behind an Ancient Crime dispels the interrelated misconceptions that serial murder is an American crime and a relatively recent phenomenon, making the novel argument that serial murder is a historic reality—an unrecognized fact in ancient times. Noted serial murderers such as the Roman Locuta (The Poisoner); Gilles De Rais of France, a prolific serial killer of children; Andres Bichel of Bavaria; and Chinese aristocratic serial killer T'zu-Hsi are spotlighted. This book provides a unique perspective that integrates supernatural interpretations of serial killing with the history of true crime, reanimating mythic entities of horror stories and presenting them as real criminals. |
| most evil woman in history: Serial Killers and the Media Ian Cummins, Marian Foley, Martin King, 2019-01-17 This book examines the media and cultural responses to the awful crimes of Brady and Hindley, whose murders provided a template for future media reporting on serial killers. It explores a wide variety of topics relating to the Moors Murders case including: the historical and geographical context of the murders, the reporting of the case and the unique features which have become standard for other murder cases e.g. nicknames for the serial killers, and it discusses the nature of evil and psychopaths and how they are represented in film, drama, novels and art. It also questions the ethics of the “serial killing industry” and how the modern cultural fixation on celebrity has extended to serial killers, and it explores the impact on the journalists and police officers from being involved in such cases including some interviews with them. The treatment of Brady and Hindley by the media also raises profound questions about the nature of punishment including the links between mental illness and crime and whether there is ever the prospect of redemption. This book draws on cultural studies, criminology, sociology and socio-legal studies to offers a multi-dimensional analysis of the impact of this case and then uses this as a basis for the analysis of more recent cases such as the crimes of Peter Sutcliffe and Harold Shipman. |
| most evil woman in history: Most Evil Steve Hodel, Ralph Pezzullo, 2009-09-22 From the New York Times bestselling author of Black Dahlia Avenger Former LAPD detective Steve Hodel compiles never-before-seen evidence that reveals his father as a serial killer who may have been responsible for some of the most infamous murders of the last century- including the Zodiac killings. |
| most evil woman in history: Evil Men Miranda Twiss, 2003 This is a study of the manifestation of true evil in men throughout humanistory. This text contains in-depth profiles of these, the men who, forheir own sinister purposes, have used their power to torture, kill, maim andradicate millions of people. |
| most evil woman in history: Illuminating the Dark Side: Evil, Women and the Feminine , 2020-09-25 Evil. Women. The Feminine. The relationships that bring together these three ideas form the basis for the papers gathered together in this volume. By asking how, why, when, and to what purpose these three terms are often linked serves as the starting point of interrogation for each of the authors here considered. |
| most evil woman in history: History vs Women Anita Sarkeesian, Ebony Adams, 2018-10-02 Rebels, rulers, scientists, artists, warriors and villains Women are, and have always been, all these things and more. Looking through the ages and across the globe, Anita Sarkeesian, founder of Feminist Frequency, along with Ebony Adams PHD, have reclaimed the stories of twenty-five remarkable women who dared to defy history and change the world around them. From Mongolian wrestlers to Chinese pirates, Native American ballerinas to Egyptian scientists, Japanese novelists to British Prime Ministers, History vs Women will reframe the history that you thought you knew. Featuring beautiful full-color illustrations of each woman and a bold graphic design, this standout nonfiction title is the perfect read for teens (or adults!) who want the true stories of phenomenal women from around the world and insight into how their lives and accomplishments impacted both their societies and our own. |
| most evil woman in history: Women and Evil Nel Noddings, 1991-05-08 Human beings love to fictionalize evil--to terrorize each other with stories of defilement, horror, excruciating pain, and divine retribution. Beneath the surface of bewitchment and half-sick amusement, however, lies the realization that evil is real and that people must find a way to face and overcome it. What we require, Carl Jung suggested, is a morality of evil--a carefully thought out plan by which to manage the evil in ourselves, in others, and in whatever deities we posit. This book is not written from a Jungian perspective, but it is nonetheless an attempt to describe a morality of evil. One suspects that descriptions of evil and the so-called problem of evil have been thoroughly suffused with male interests and conditioned by masculine experience. This result could hardly have been avoided in a sexist culture, and recognizing the truth of such a claim does not commit us to condemn every male philosopher and theologian who has written on the problem. It suggests, rather, that we may get a clearer view of evil if we take a different standpoint. The standpoint I take here will be that of women; that is, I will attempt to describe evil from the perspective of women's experience. |
| most evil woman in history: Talking with Serial Killers Christopher Berry-Dee, 2013-05-23 An investigative criminologist, Christopher Berry-Dee is a man who talks to serial killers. Their pursuit of horror and violence is described in their own words, transcribed from audio and videotape interviews conducted deep inside some of the toughest prisons in the world. Berry-Dee describes the circumstances of his meetings with some of the world's most evil men and reproduces, verbatim, their very words as they describe their crimes and discuss their remorse -- or lack of it. This work offers a penetrating insight into the workings of the criminal mind. |
| most evil woman in history: Australia's Most Evil Women Paul Benjamin Kidd, 2013 It is a little known fact that Australia has some of the most evil murderesses in history. This figure includes the highest percentage of female serial killers anywhere in the world. Australian true crime historian Paul B. Kidd has catalogued the most evil of the evil. |
| most evil woman in history: The World's Most Evil Serial Killers Al Cimino, Jo Durden Smith, Paul Roland, John Marlowe, Victor McQueen, Charlotte Greig, 2021-07-01 There are few people alive who are so cruel, so heartless and so undeniably evil that they will kill again and again. Yet at any one time, there are between 25 and 50 active serial killers in the USA, and their chilling crimes have fascinated us since the days of Jack the Ripper. Here you will discover how these heartless killers committed their gruesome deeds, what motivated them to kill and how, eventually, they were caught. This collection features more than 50 compelling stories, including: • Ed Kemper, who dismembered the bodies of his victims once he had finished with them; • Ted Bundy, who abducted, raped and brutally killed more than 30 women; • Charles Manson, who led a cult of mayhem and murder; • Jeffrey Dahmer, who stored a human head in his freezer; • Randy Kraft, who was pulled over for drunk driving with a body in the trunk of his car; • Alexander Pichushkin, who aimed to kill a person for every square on the chessboard. |
| most evil woman in history: Perceiving Evil, Evil, Women and the Feminine David Farnell, 2015 |
| most evil woman in history: Pirate Women Laura Sook Duncombe, 2017-04-01 In the first-ever Seven Seas history of the world's female buccaneers, Pirate Women: The Princesses, Prostitutes, and Privateers Who Ruled the Seven Seas tells the story of women, both real and legendary, who through the ages sailed alongside—and sometimes in command of—their male counterparts. These women came from all walks of life but had one thing in common: a desire for freedom. History has largely ignored these female swashbucklers, until now. Here are their stories, from ancient Norse princess Alfhild and warrior Rusla to Sayyida al-Hurra of the Barbary corsairs; from Grace O'Malley, who terrorized shipping operations around the British Isles during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I; to Cheng I Sao, who commanded a fleet of four hundred ships off China in the early nineteenth century. Author Laura Sook Duncombe also looks beyond the stories to the storytellers and mythmakers. What biases and agendas motivated them? What did they leave out? Pirate Women explores why and how these stories are told and passed down, and how history changes depending on who is recording it. It's the most comprehensive overview of women pirates in one volume and chock-full of swashbuckling adventures that pull these unique women from the shadows into the spotlight that they deserve. |
| most evil woman in history: Nazi Women Paul Roland, 2014-08-15 The Nazis believed their mission was to 'masculinize' life in Germany. Hermann Goering told women, 'Take a pot, a dustpan and a broom, and marry a man,' but many still became active participants in murder and mayhem. From the Reich Bride Schools through the Bund Deutscher Mädel and the bizarre Lebensborn Aryan breeding programme to the brothels of the Sicherheitsdienst, this book covers the lives of women in the Third Reich, concentrating on those who sought personal power and influence amid the chaos and death. |
| most evil woman in history: Monster Aileen Wuornos & Christopher Berry-Dee, 2016-06-30 Aileen Wuornos was executed in Florida, on the 9th of October, 2002 at the age of 46. She was the 10th woman to be sentenced to death in the USA since the death penalty resumed in 1976. Convicted for the murder of six men, in a two month period, Aileen claimed she acted in self defence however the investigation into these claims was poor and she later retracted her statement announcing to the Supreme Court, I'm one who seriously hates human life and would kill again. All-too-often female prostitutes have been the victims of male serial killers - the killings of Aileen 'Lee' Wuornos were the inverse of this. She was a child prostitute, fleeing an abusive childhood at the hands of her grandparents, which led straight into a disastrous adulthood of difficult affairs with both men and women. Her metamorphosis from victim to attacker had brutal consequences: a stream of dead men. Following a renewed interest in this woman after the film Monster, this is her story in her own words. |
| most evil woman in history: The Improbability of Love Hannah Rothschild, 2015-11-03 Finalist for the Baileys Women's Prize Annie McDee, thirty-one, lives in a shabby London flat, works as a chef, and is struggling to get by. Reeling from a sudden breakup, she’s taken on an unsuitable new lover and finds herself rummaging through a secondhand shop to buy him a birthday gift. A dusty, anonymous old painting catches her eye. After spending her meager savings on the artwork, Annie prepares an exquisite birthday dinner for two—only to be stood up. The painting becomes hers, and Annie begins to suspect that it may be more valuable than she’d thought. Soon she finds herself pursued by parties who would do anything to possess her picture: an exiled Russian oligarch, an avaricious sheikha, an unscrupulous art dealer. In her search for the painting’s identity, Annie will unwittingly discover some of the darkest secrets of European history—and the possibility of falling in love again. |
| most evil woman in history: Evil Wives John Marlowe, 2016 Evil Wives focuses on the most horrible crimes every committed by women. Author John Marlowe presents a carefully chosen cross-section of history's deadliest female criminals, whose fascinating life stories are viewed with an unflinching gaze, making for a chilling but engrossing read.--Back cover. |
| most evil woman in history: Transgressive Womanhood: Investigating Vamps, Witches, Whores, Serial Killers and Monsters , 2019-02-26 This volume explores the theme of evil, women and the feminine, indicating both the misogynist and subversive implications of the evil woman stereotype. |
| most evil woman in history: What Did Jesus Look Like? Joan E. Taylor, 2018-02-08 Jesus Christ is arguably the most famous man who ever lived. His image adorns countless churches, icons, and paintings. He is the subject of millions of statues, sculptures, devotional objects and works of art. Everyone can conjure an image of Jesus: usually as a handsome, white man with flowing locks and pristine linen robes. But what did Jesus really look like? Is our popular image of Jesus overly westernized and untrue to historical reality? This question continues to fascinate. Leading Christian Origins scholar Joan E. Taylor surveys the historical evidence, and the prevalent image of Jesus in art and culture, to suggest an entirely different vision of this most famous of men. He may even have had short hair. |
| most evil woman in history: Rejected Princesses Jason Porath, 2016-10-25 Blending the iconoclastic feminism of The Notorious RBG and the confident irreverence of Go the F**ck to Sleep, a brazen and empowering illustrated collection that celebrates inspirational badass women throughout history, based on the popular Tumblr blog. Well-behaved women seldom make history. Good thing these women are far from well behaved . . . Illustrated in a contemporary animation style, Rejected Princesses turns the ubiquitous pretty pink princess stereotype portrayed in movies, and on endless toys, books, and tutus on its head, paying homage instead to an awesome collection of strong, fierce, and yes, sometimes weird, women: warrior queens, soldiers, villains, spies, revolutionaries, and more who refused to behave and meekly accept their place. An entertaining mix of biography, imagery, and humor written in a fresh, young, and riotous voice, this thoroughly researched exploration salutes these awesome women drawn from both historical and fantastical realms, including real life, literature, mythology, and folklore. Each profile features an eye-catching image of both heroic and villainous women in command from across history and around the world, from a princess-cum-pirate in fifth century Denmark, to a rebel preacher in 1630s Boston, to a bloodthirsty Hungarian countess, and a former prostitute who commanded a fleet of more than 70,000 men on China’s seas. |
| most evil woman in history: Talking with Female Serial Killers Christopher Berry-Dee, 2018-05 |
| most evil woman in history: Ask a Manager Alison Green, 2018-05-01 From the creator of the popular website Ask a Manager and New York’s work-advice columnist comes a witty, practical guide to 200 difficult professional conversations—featuring all-new advice! There’s a reason Alison Green has been called “the Dear Abby of the work world.” Ten years as a workplace-advice columnist have taught her that people avoid awkward conversations in the office because they simply don’t know what to say. Thankfully, Green does—and in this incredibly helpful book, she tackles the tough discussions you may need to have during your career. You’ll learn what to say when • coworkers push their work on you—then take credit for it • you accidentally trash-talk someone in an email then hit “reply all” • you’re being micromanaged—or not being managed at all • you catch a colleague in a lie • your boss seems unhappy with your work • your cubemate’s loud speakerphone is making you homicidal • you got drunk at the holiday party Praise for Ask a Manager “A must-read for anyone who works . . . [Alison Green’s] advice boils down to the idea that you should be professional (even when others are not) and that communicating in a straightforward manner with candor and kindness will get you far, no matter where you work.”—Booklist (starred review) “The author’s friendly, warm, no-nonsense writing is a pleasure to read, and her advice can be widely applied to relationships in all areas of readers’ lives. Ideal for anyone new to the job market or new to management, or anyone hoping to improve their work experience.”—Library Journal (starred review) “I am a huge fan of Alison Green’s Ask a Manager column. This book is even better. It teaches us how to deal with many of the most vexing big and little problems in our workplaces—and to do so with grace, confidence, and a sense of humor.”—Robert Sutton, Stanford professor and author of The No Asshole Rule and The Asshole Survival Guide “Ask a Manager is the ultimate playbook for navigating the traditional workforce in a diplomatic but firm way.”—Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together |
| most evil woman in history: The Most Evil Secret Societies in History Shelley Klein, 2011-09-30 The Most Evil Secret Societies in History examines fifteen of the most notorious organisations the world has ever seen. |
| most evil woman in history: Temptresses Shahrukh Husain, 2013-09-19 Evil Women. Every culture has them. Religions have banned and branded them. Men find them terrifying and fascinating. Women secretly admire them. An eye cast over the impressive if frightening array of characters reveals baby-thief Lamia, a fertile deity from Greek mythology with a serpent's tail who seduced mortals and bred beautiful monster-children; Morgan le Fay, fairy sister to King Arthur, who according to Celtic legend tried to wrest the throne from him using her black magic powers; Medea who wreaked terrible revenge on Jason when he left her for a younger woman; Lilith, Eve, the Queen of Sheba, Delilah, Jezebel, Kali - all wicked women whose names have been with us for centuries as demons and sirens and troublemakers. |
| most evil woman in history: When Women Kill Coramae Richey Mann, 1996-02-01 A fascinating profile of female homicide offenders emerges from this analysis of the characteristics of women murderers in six cities in the United States, including the circumstances of the murders, the role of the victims, the role of the perpetrators, and their fates in court. |
| most evil woman in history: The Most Evil Woman Ever Olivia Watson, 2017-03-11 There are few examples of pure evil more horrifying than the actions of Gertrude Baniszewski. In October, 1965, Indiana became home to one of the most cruel and horrifying murders the United States had ever seen-the murder of 16-year-old Sylvia Likens. Likens was tortured for three months by Baniszewski, Baniszewski's children, and their neighbourhood friends in a horrible game of emotional manipulation and terror. When Likens' will to live finally gave, her body followed. The 16-year-old finally passed away from shock, malnutrition, and a severe brain hemorrhage caused by months of severe beatings and other terrible deeds. |
| most evil woman in history: Dead Men Walking Christopher Berry-Dee, Tony Brown, 2011-04 Originally published in hardcover in 2008. |
| most evil woman in history: Circe Madeline Miller, 2018-04-10 This #1 New York Times bestseller is a bold and subversive retelling of the goddess's story that brilliantly reimagines the life of Circe, formidable sorceress of The Odyssey (Alexandra Alter, TheNew York Times). In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child -- not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power -- the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves. Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus. But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love. With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language, and page-turning suspense, Circe is a triumph of storytelling, an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man's world. #1 New York Times Bestseller -- named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR, the Washington Post, People, Time, Amazon, Entertainment Weekly, Bustle, Newsweek, the A.V. Club, Christian Science Monitor, Refinery 29, Buzzfeed, Paste, Audible, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Thrillist, NYPL, Self, Real Simple, Goodreads, Boston Globe, Electric Literature, BookPage, the Guardian, Book Riot, Seattle Times, and Business Insider. |
grammar - When to use "most" or "the most" - English Language …
Jul 7, 2015 · "But what I remembered most is moving a lot" is correct, with or without "the". Although "the most" is the superlative, preferable. Here, "most" is used as an adverb modifying …
meaning - Is "most" equivalent to "a majority of"? - English …
"Most of the children chose cauliflower." Probably means a majority. "Cauliflower was chosen the most." Could be just a plurality. But wow, it's pretty vague. It might be very hard to say without …
"Most of which" or "most of whom" or "most of who"?
Apr 1, 2022 · Since "most of _____" is a prepositional phrase, the correct usage would be "most of whom." The phrase "most of who" should probably never be used. Another way to think …
Most is vs most are - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Most men are stupid. B. Most of the men in that club are stupid. C. Most of the men in the world are stupid. Sentences A and C seem the same in principle, but only A is completely unlimited. …
Punctuation for the phrase "including but not limited to"
Oct 1, 2013 · Comma use is subjective and in most, but not all cases is a style choice. The only place in that sentence where commas are required is in the list at the end (running, jumping, …
Is "funnest" a word? - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
My 2 cents, do not use "funnest", replace it with "the best". E.g.: "That was the funnest party ever!" vs "That was the best party ever!" For the nit-picky, the best way of saying the above …
What is the most formal way to address a respected person while ...
Nov 10, 2014 · The most formal, respectful and deferential way of addressing a person today is Respected Sir, or Respected Madam. Use it when the other person is clearly not your equal in …
Is “zzzzz” the most common spelling to represent a person sleeping?
What is the most common or correct spelling of "zzzzz"? (1) zzzzz (5 letters) (2) zzzz (4 letters) (3) zzz (3 letters) My question stems from when I first wrote it as "zzzzz" (5 letters) in an …
What is the most professional name for "squiggly bracket"?
Aug 8, 2010 · That was just the most common usage, some people called "()" either braces or brackets, so the important thing was the qualifier on the type of brace for anything other than …
Why is 'c*nt' so much more derogatory in the US than the UK?
Remember that most towns in England, in the Middle Ages, had a Gropecunt Lane, including several in London. The last recorded new one was named in 1561. In modern times they have …
grammar - When to use "most" or "the most" - English Language …
Jul 7, 2015 · "But what I remembered most is moving a lot" is correct, with or without "the". Although "the most" is the superlative, preferable. Here, "most" is used as an adverb modifying …
meaning - Is "most" equivalent to "a majority of"? - English …
"Most of the children chose cauliflower." Probably means a majority. "Cauliflower was chosen the most." Could be just a plurality. But wow, it's pretty vague. It might be very hard to say without …
"Most of which" or "most of whom" or "most of who"?
Apr 1, 2022 · Since "most of _____" is a prepositional phrase, the correct usage would be "most of whom." The phrase "most of who" should probably never be used. Another way to think about …
Most is vs most are - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Most men are stupid. B. Most of the men in that club are stupid. C. Most of the men in the world are stupid. Sentences A and C seem the same in principle, but only A is completely unlimited. …
Punctuation for the phrase "including but not limited to"
Oct 1, 2013 · Comma use is subjective and in most, but not all cases is a style choice. The only place in that sentence where commas are required is in the list at the end (running, jumping, …
Is "funnest" a word? - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
My 2 cents, do not use "funnest", replace it with "the best". E.g.: "That was the funnest party ever!" vs "That was the best party ever!" For the nit-picky, the best way of saying the above would be …
What is the most formal way to address a respected person while ...
Nov 10, 2014 · The most formal, respectful and deferential way of addressing a person today is Respected Sir, or Respected Madam. Use it when the other person is clearly not your equal in …
Is “zzzzz” the most common spelling to represent a person …
What is the most common or correct spelling of "zzzzz"? (1) zzzzz (5 letters) (2) zzzz (4 letters) (3) zzz (3 letters) My question stems from when I first wrote it as "zzzzz" (5 letters) in an English …
What is the most professional name for "squiggly bracket"?
Aug 8, 2010 · That was just the most common usage, some people called "()" either braces or brackets, so the important thing was the qualifier on the type of brace for anything other than …
Why is 'c*nt' so much more derogatory in the US than the UK?
Remember that most towns in England, in the Middle Ages, had a Gropecunt Lane, including several in London. The last recorded new one was named in 1561. In modern times they have …
