Judith (the widow) is one of the literary pieces in the Old English works

Judith's Gender Transformation


Judith (the widow) is one of the literary works of the Old English words that construct a double-gendered hero who differs from the story of the bible of the same woman. Judith is depicted with depictions of comparisons such as a seductress versus a vaginal virgin, pagan versus Christian, and a young girl versus a wise king, which reminds every viewer of her femininity. Even so, the act in which she beheads Holofernes stands in stark contrast to her femininity. Instead of preserving the image of Judith, an in-depth analysis constructs Judith's image, which encompasses each gender. Judith goes through a series of changes. Her description transformation from her old femininity to the male role of a leader and a people's hero. As a female seductress, Judith has a potent but an obscure expression of power in her wealth. In place of a blatant change from female to male, the transference of power in Judith's story is fluid. The protagonist's addition of masculine manifestation of power and her innate femininity are linked in her androgyny intrinsically.

Judith's Vulnerability and Power


Just the same way the society always construct gender, Judith's femininity is primarily portrayed as virginal, insinuating her vulnerability to sex when approached by rapists. Over the past years, the society has viewed the female gender as those who are vulnerable, meaning that they can hardly stand for themselves when it comes to some attacks. Even so, the construction of vulnerability puts Judith in a stance of power. That is, the might to influence and kill her enemy. It is justifiable to believe that Judith is perceived as a widow within the text and that the audience does not view her as a virgin. Whereas the words or phrases used to describe Judith portrays the femininity in her, such as a 'wife' or a 'woman,' her actions contrasts the title the society had given her or what she is expected to be as a woman.

Judith's Hyper-Femininity and Contrast


Judith's gender is promoted through the creation of her hyper-femininity to guard her status as a woman. Nevertheless, by developing a female character with such stereotypical or all-encompassing traditional feminine attributes, there is a creation of a simpler contrast with Judith's subsequent masculinity and her later violence. Judith is described in the text as wife, woman, girl, virgin, maiden, queen, or lady. All the phrases mentioned above promote and emphasize her femininity within the text. However, all these terms or words are contrasted in the bible, where she is referred to as 'the widow.' It is also worth noting how the society has blurred the female genders through Judith's context. Women have been deemed powerless and to some extent insignificant in the community. It has been believed that they cannot stand up for themselves when they are pushed through social injustices such as discrimination and exploitation as illustrated by Judith. Femininity has always been associated with vulnerability. Even though, Judith challenges this notion when she seduces and kills Holofernes.

Empowering Women and Challenging Misuse of Masculinity


In conclusion, Judith challenges the old notion that women are always vulnerable in society. Instead, she affirms that women can be powerful regardless of the means they use to demonstrate their powers. It is also inappropriate for men to misuse their masculinity at the expense of women, who have been exploited in society for a long time.

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