Millennium Trilogy:Eye for Eye and the Utopia of Order in Modern Waste Lands

Maria de Lurdes Sampaio

Abstract


This essay starts with an overview of the formulas used by Stieg Larsson in his Millennium trilogy, namely crime fiction, travel narratives and gothic plots. I then focus on two main characters Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander, and argue that Blomkvist, a modern Theseus, leads us to the labyrinth of the globalized world, while the series’ protagonist, Lisbeth Salander, modeled on the Amazon, is an example of the empowerment of women in crime fiction by playing the role of the “tough guy” detective, while also personifying the popular roles of the victim, the outcast and the avenger. Dialogues with Greek tragedy will also be discussed, namely Salander’s struggles with strong father figures.
Key words: Fictional Crime; Revision of Myths, Evil; Patriarchal Societies; Women Empowerment; Freedom; Control

Resumé: Cette étude commence par un aperçu des formules employées par Stieg Larsson dans sa trilogie Millennium, composée de fiction policière, de récits de voyage et d'intrigues gothiques. Elle se concentre ensuite sur deux personnages principaux: Mikael Blomkvist et Lisbeth Salander. Nous démonstrons que Blomkvist, tel un Thésée moderne, nous entraîne dans le labyrinthe du monde global, tandis que l'héroïne des séries Lisbeth Salander, telle une Amazone, illustre le pouvoir conféré aux femmes dans la fiction policière en jouant à la fois le rôle masculin du detéctive coriace et le rôle populaire et féminin de la victime, de l'exclue et de la vengeresse. Les dialogues avec la tragédie grecque sont également abordés dans les combats de Salander contre des images de père fort.
Mots-clés: Crime Fictionel; Révision des Mythes; Le Mal; Société Patriarcale; Autonomie des femmes; Liberté; Contrôle

Keywords


Fictional Crime; Revision of Myths, Evil; Patriarchal Societies; Women Empowerment; Freedom; Control;Crime Fictionel; Révision des Mythes; Le Mal; Société Patriarcale; Autonomie des femmes; Liberté; Contrôle

References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/j.ccc.1923670020110702.008

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