Final answer:
In romance literature, women are commonly represented as maidens, mothers, temptresses, and crones. These roles reflect historical societal expectations and fears related to female behavior. The portrayals serve to either glorify or caution against certain characteristics or deviations from societal norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
In romance literature, women have historically been depicted in a number of archetypal roles, such as maidens, mothers, temptresses, and crones. These figures often embody various societal expectations, virtues, and fears related to female behavior and influence. The maiden is typically shown as pure and youthful, an embodiment of innocence often in need of protection. The mother is a figure of nurture and moral fortitude, representing the societal pillar of family. Temptresses, on the other side, are often portrayed as women with a powerful sexual or seductive influence, leading men astray from virtue. Crones represent wisdom or sometimes malice, seen in the figures of witches or elderly women associated with magic and sometimes viewed as a threatening 'other.'
The literature from historical periods, particularly through the lens of male authors, reinforces these archetypes. The maiden is celebrated for her chastity and gentleness, a glorification that can also be observed during wedding traditions even in modern times, where the bride often wears white symbolizing purity. The depiction of elderly women as crones or witches reflects a historical suspicion and marginalization of older women, particularly those who deviated from socially accepted norms.