Gendered Villainy in 20th-Century Children's Literature: A Comparative Analysis of The White Witch and Captain Hook

Abstract

This thesis investigates gendered representations of villainy in two canonical works of 20th-century children’s literature: J.M. Barrie’s Peter and Wendy (1911) and C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (1950). While previous research has extensively explored gender disparities among protagonists, the gendered portrayals of antagonists remain underexamined. This thesis addresses that gap by scrutinising Captain Hook and The White Witch, analysing how the patriarchal worldview shapes their villainous characterisations. Through an interdisciplinary framework synthesising children’s fantasy-adventure literature, villainy, and feminist criticism, this thesis argues that the respective female and male villains are not granted equal narrative depth. Whereas Captain Hook is cast as a sympathetic, tragic villain, The White Witch is framed as a one-dimensional, archetypal villainess. By situating these characters within their historical, literary, and religious contexts, the analysis reveals that male villainy is dynamic and redemptive, whilst female villainy is fixed and punitive. This disparity reflects broader patriarchal trends in 20th-century children’s literature, wherein male characters are assigned greater moral complexity than their simplistic female counterparts. This thesis aims to illuminate these sexist patterns and encourage critical awareness of their impact on young, impressionable readers.