Seduction’s Secrets

THE UNTOLD STORIES OF FAMED SEDUCTRESSES Written by Jessica Katz, Online Editor Graphic by Nicole Glesinger

Cleopatra, Catherine the Great, Marilyn Monroe, Hariette Wilson and Agnès Sorel: What do all these women have in common? They stand out as famed seductresses. As leaders, sex symbols and cultural icons, each of these women embody a specific type of alluring power — so powerful that the world is yet to forget. Throughout the history of patriarchal societies, a consistent tool that a woman had was her sexuality. Using cleverness and creativity, she could lure a man in, then turn the dynamic around to create power for herself. This is known as the art of seduction.

As Robert Greene, author of “The Art of Seduction,” explains, “In seduction, the woman is no longer a passive sex object; she has become an active agent, a figure of power.”1 To execute this power, she could be a siren, the male fantasy of a sexual and confident woman, offering pleasure with a hint of danger.2 Cleopatra was a siren, luring in Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony to protect Egypt. She was a confident woman with evident sex appeal, rumored to have invented the first vibrator: a bee-powered gourd.3 She could be a natural: playful, lighthearted and full of energy. The natural has a girl-next-door quality that makes her easy to adore.4 She could be the ideal lover, appealing to a man’s idealized visions of himself and filling the gap of what is missing from his life. Using devotion and patient attention, she works to make her target feel special. The typical ideal lover is a young woman seducing wealthy older men.5

¹ Greene, Robert. 2004. The Art of Seduction. N.p.: Gardners Books. ² Ibid. ³ Ibid. ⁴ Ibid. ⁵ Ibid. She could also be a coquette. She pulls in men with her charm and sex appeal, then pushes them away, leaving them unsatisfied. She’s confident and independent, forcing men to chase after her. Drag queens often pose as coquettes to gain the attention of the room, beaming with undeniable confidence.6

Lastly, she could be a charmer, observing her target and focusing on his needs. She never talks about herself. She only listens, and this attention weaves a magic spell. Her target feels like a star in the presence of her affections and in turn, falls for her.7 There is a discussion of morality when it comes to seduction. Charming one’s way to what they desire, whether that be money, power or anything else, may not be the most appropriate route — especially given today’s standards. Overall, when it comes to female sexuality and the art of seduction, there are lots of labels and criticisms involved.8

In the Bible, Eve was known as the original seductress. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were told they could eat anything they wanted — except the forbidden fruit.9 Eating this fruit would cost the loss of innocence for mankind, and ultimately cause their deaths. Eve had been created for Adam, and as the most beautiful woman on Earth, Adam inevitably fell for her. So when Eve picked the forbidden fruit and ate it, despite all warnings, Adam followed. Their innocence was lost. Many believe this loss and suffering is due to Eve’s seduction, and that Eve represents everything about a woman that men should hide from.10

⁶ Ibid. ⁷ Ibid. ⁸ Ibid. ⁹ Robidoux, Jim. 2019. “Adam and Eve, forbidden fruit and ‘The Fall.’” Manchester Ink Link. 10 Witcombe, Christopher L. 2000. “Eve and the Identity of Women.”

Consciously or unconsciously, the Eve Effect continues to act as a weapon against women to this day, even as we gain access to more means for success. Modern women are consistently sexualized in the same terms as seductresses. Engaging in conversation with a man? They must be into him. Wearing something revealing? They must want sex. Even as we slowly break away from these assumptions, there is still this evident stereotype of seduction in social conversations that boxes women in. This may be because in historical patriarchal societies, sexuality was the strongest tool a woman had to find success — and it was often perceived as a tool for controlling men. Hariette Wilson, famous author, began her career at the age of 15 when she became a mistress to an earl. She was publicly shunned in London high society by its leading members, but she privately enjoyed her impressive list of lovers, including the Duke of Wellington, George IV, Lord Canning and Lord Plamerston. Through her love life, Wilson built herself a powerful network of men to whom she could turn to when she needed.11 In fact, in the 1820s, Wilson wrote a memoir and blackmailed her former lovers who wished to remain anonymous. The ultimatum? Pay 11 Ibid. Wilson or have your name published in her text. If money is power, she used her seduction to gain both.12 As the first official mistress of France from 1444 to 1450, Agnès Sorel commanded power in the court of King Charles VII, earning her many enemies. Sorel’s fashion choices were just as bold as her public affair, always exposing one breast. Charles spoiled Sorel with a variety of gifts including lands, jewels and a private residence. Sorel’s seduction not only benefited herself but also advanced the standing of her family by securing them positions in court.13 ¹² Ibid. ¹³ Ibid.

The private affairs of these women were anything but private, forcing them to cope with the constant scrutiny placed upon them. They were known as scandalous, so-called bad girls. Critics saw them dangerous and manipulative, controlling the men in their lives.14 Throughout the history Yet these seductresses were influential women of patriarchal societies, unwilling to play by the restrictive rules placed upon them. In times a consistent tool that when women had very few tools for success, a woman had was her they were determined and innovative, finding great power in sexuality. Using cleverness their sexuality. What these stories of and creativity, she could iconic women may be forgetting, however, is that a woman’s lure a man in, then turn sexuality, and the power she derives from the dynamic around to it, has always been and will always be only one aspect of her dynamic create power for herself. being. Cleopatra spoke as many as a dozen languages and was This is known as the art educated in topics like mathematics and philosophy — scholars of seduction. have revealed that her intellect may have been even more powerful than her appearance.15 If their toughest critics had the wit to realize the true convincing power their presence had, chances are all famed seductresses’ best asset wouldn’t be considered their appearances at all. Rather they could have been appreciated for being strategic and influential social players, known as feminist icons. ■ ¹⁴ Ibid. ¹⁵ Andrews, Evan. 2021. “10 Little-know facts about Cleopatra.” History.