The Image of a Witch in British Literature and Culture

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the change of witch's image in British literature and culture. Witches have been present in literature for centuries which is why their role in a narrative has changed throughout the years. The theoretical chapters define witches as characters and describe different ways to analyze a narrative. Then, the analytical part captures the character's transformation in two phases: The Hag and The Idol. Along with the thesis, the reader follows witch's journey from Shakespeare's Macbeth to Neil Gaiman's Ocean at the End of the Lane.