Literator - Journal of Literary Criticism, Comparative Linguistics and Literary Studies ISSN: (Online) 2219-8237, (Print) 0258-2279 Page 1 of 12 Original Research Iceni to iconic: Literary, political and ideological transformations of Boudica through time Author: Boudica has captivated the imagination of generations of scholars, artists, writers and poets, 1 Margaret C. Steyn eventually becoming firmly entrenched in popular culture which has attempted to articulate Affiliation: England’s national identity through the dwelling on the heroic past and emphasising her 1Department of English position as a Muse. This article focuses on the use and manipulation of the image of Boudica Studies, College of Human to evoke the heritage of the ‘noble savage’ or as an example of ‘native barbarianism’ by Sciences, University of South successive regimes striving to establish a historical foundational past in an attempt to create a Africa, Pretoria, South Africa nationalist historiography. The representation of the image of Boudica through a detailed Corresponding author: historical analysis, starting from the earliest mention in Tacitus to more recent representations Margaret Steyn, of the icon, will illustrate how the dichotomy of interpretation has rendered her a chameleon:
[email protected] sometimes a villain and sometimes a heroine. However, through all these incarnations, Boudica Dates: never truly loses her place as a nationalistic icon, symbol of victory and figurehead of resistance Received: 11 Jan. 2018 for the emergent British people. Accepted: 11 Oct. 2019 Published: 09 Dec. 2019 Keywords: Boudica; iconic representation; national identity; gender in antiquity; transformations of Boudica; Boudica in literature; British identity; popularisation of ancient icons; reception How to cite this article: Steyn, M.C., 2019, ‘Iceni to iconic: Literary, political and ideological transformations Introduction of Boudica through time’, In 60/61 CE1,2 on the eastern side of Roman Britain a series of events were set in motion that Literator 40(1), a1474.