The witch in every woman - Feminism and the ever-changing archetype of the witch in the United States throughout the 20th-21st Century

This thesis examines the evolution of the ever-changing archetype of the witch, reclaimed and redefined by women throughout the 20th and 21st century in the US. It gives a historical and cultural background into the origins of witches, witchcraft and consequently the archetypes that followed. Further investigation is taken to understand why the archetype of the witch did not change for over five centuries, and why the 20th and 21st century saw a shift in the image of the witch. The witch archetype is reclaimed by women and feminists, and evolves with women's liberation and women's rights. This thesis discusses each wave of feminism starting from the 1900s to present day, and how this coincides with the archetype of the witch changing. The research is drawn from various feminist writers and scholars writing on the link between state and church, to academic and journalistic articles on the up-rise in witchcraft and witches. I have also conducted an interview with self-proclaimed witch Luka Costello from Dublin, Ireland to gain insight on what witchcraft looks like today. This thesis provides a broad outlook on why the archetype of the witch has evolved over a century and why the witch is perceived the way it is today.