what is femme fatale

A femme fatale is a stock character of a mysterious, beautiful, and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising, deadly traps. She is an archetype of literature, art, and film noir, and her ability to enchant, entice, and hypnotize her victim with a spell was in the earliest stories seen as verging on supernatural. The term originates from the French phrase "femme fatale," which means "deadly woman" or "lethal woman". A femme fatale tries to achieve her hidden purpose by using feminine wiles such as beauty, charm, or sexual allure. In many cases, her attitude towards sexuality is lackadaisical, intriguing, or frivolous. She may also make use of some subduing weapon such as sleeping gas, a modern analog of magical powers in older tales. Femmes fatales are typically villainous, or at least morally ambiguous, and always associated with a sense of mystification and unease. The most common characteristics of a femme fatale include being beautiful, seductive, and nothing but trouble.