The Foul Witch Sycorax as the Reflection of Gendre Misconception

This thesis examines the figure of Sycorax in William Shakespeare's ‘The Tempest’ through the lenses of gender and witchcraft in early modern England. Since Sycorax never appears on stage, his presence can be felt and constructed by some male characters, most notably Prospero, Ariel, and Caliban. Everyone frames her as a powerful witch and as a threatening and absent mother. This study analyzes how Sycorax's identity is shaped by culture and beliefs in that period. Based on historical texts on witchcraft, witch hunts, and gender norms, this thesis contextualizes Sycorax within the narratives that demonized women who transgressed patriarchal boundaries. Through this analysis Sycorax emerges not as a mere villain, but as a symbol for the silenced women labelled witches in early modern England.