ABSTRACT
In his short story, Carmen, Prosper Merimee gave the central female character the attributes associated with this imge of the femme fatale. In the context of the literature of the period, Carmen was merely another version of the archetype of the femme fatale. Physically, she embodies all the symbols associated with the night by those who see it as something sinister. The downfall of Don Jose is expressed in terms of his being possessed by evil. Meanwhile, in Bizet's opera, the introduction of the character of Micaela reinforces the concept of the two opposing aspects of Woman. In The Don Jose's understanding of women involves judging them in relation to the maternal ideal, an ideal that excludes all other forms of femininity. Conversely, she has been described as a frivolous woman of easy virtue, and considered to be immoral. As a woman of darkness, she is regenerated in the recurring theme of love.
