Avenger in distress: a semiotic study of Lisbeth Salander, rape-revenge and ideology

Culturally constructed ideals and stereotypes are part of collective sense-making processes. One such stereotype is Nils Christie's ideal victim. The present study discusses how the victim shares key features with another cultural stereotype: damsel in distress. Moreover, addresses attempts at subverting stereotypes, which can be found women avengers rape-revenge narratives. Studies narratives have elucidated stories (re)imagine rape victimhood survival Western Nordic culture, ways that question qua her underlying patriarchal ideologies from a feminist perspective. However, critique has led to creation other ideologically complex even problematic portrayals victimization. Through semiotic analysis popular protagonist, Lisbeth Salander, different surface, converse, collide fictional rape, survival, victimhood, revenge, retribution. finds while embodying resistance damsel, Salander also embodies aspects keep place, thus creating an image. This creates space for questioning understanding resistance.