Feminine Archetype of Musical Drama: A Multimedia Presentation

Ever since the Renaissance, representations of female characters in musical drama have been cast to a select number of archetypes; however, they are still commonly found in opera and musical theatre shows today. Whether they be performed by sopranos, mezzos, altos, or any other voice type, they are a concept commonly found in the dramatic and musical world. While these archetypes can be seen as very rigid, they are an important tool in studying musical drama by providing concise and simplified roles to explore and expand upon, including factors such as social class and historical background. Like a composer using sequences and musical tools, women performers are able to take control of these stock characters, oftentimes created by men based on the stereotypical or ideological roles of women. There are many distinct archetypes that can be identified and explored; however, for the purposes of this essay, I will concentrate on Columbina, the Ingenue, the Jealous Lover, the Femme Fatale, and the Madwoman