Keith Kikuchi

Professor Hudson

Women in the Visual and Literary Arts

9 February 2014

"Earth Mother Cultures: The Banshee"

Hailing from the lands of Ireland and Scotland comes the legend of the banshee; this

figure is most commonly represented as a woman, wearing the clothes of a mourner, and wailing.

She is also depicted as a washer-woman washing the shrouds of those who are about to die, a

dweller of a fairy mound, and a solitary creature. The archetype of the banshee is that of an omen

of death, a sign that somebody is about to die.

Women, since the advent of our species, are seen as the bringers of life. Men may provide

the seed of life, but women provide the vessel, the nutrients, and the catalyst for life to grow.

Another representation of the basic roles of males and females is that of the blade and chalice.

The blade "^" symbolizes man; it can also be interpreted as a spear, aspiration, fire, and the male

genitalia. The chalice "V" symbolizes woman; it can be interpreted as divine grace, water, and

the womb, the place from which life begins, grows, and is delivered into the world.

Although the banshee might be seen as a sign of imminent demise, she actually

represents that of a messenger, or deliverer. Most often seen by non-relatives and friends, the

banshee would warn of an individual's demise; with the information in hand, friends would visit

and say their goodbyes, and family would have a better grasp on the definiteness of the persons

death. This knowledge also gave the community a chance to talk about death and ease the

mourning process.