The Wise Crone: The Two-Faced Archetypes in Global Folk Horror and Comparative Literature

Abstract

The research objects of this study are three old-woman folk narrative motifs from different cultural backgrounds, namely Nenek Kebayan of Malaysian folk narrative, Shanlao (Yamamba/Yamauba) from Japanese folk narrative and Baba Yaga from Russian folk narrative. It claims that, despite their cultural differences across regions, the three are a universal “dual-sided” type: they all appear as weak and marginalised grandmothers but are actually benevolent, wise, nurturing guardians and forest monsters that eat people. This feigned exterior is used to evaluate the moral, humble, and inner nature of visitors who cross its threshold. There are two types of functions for this double-sided archetype. On the other hand, it is a wisdom archetype and a social-political distributor, a saviour of narratives; it can enable supernatural marriages, set political borders, and empower legendary heroes (Reider, 2019; Putih & Said, 2007). However, it can be portrayed as an evil entity hiding in the woods and forests that pulls scoffing or insolent people off the road. If misguided people do fall into this way, they should be left behind as punishment for their rudeness and insolence (Ekmekçi, 2022).