The Crown and Cauldron: Body Politics of the King and Witch

Abstract

This paper evaluates Ernst Kantorowicz’ claim of two bodies of the King during the medieval ages in
Europe. While the king is born with a natural body and blessed with powers through divine grace, the
witch functions as a subversive force as she also has a natural body and powers from the devil. Through
this paper I attempt to probe the contentious relationship between power and body, and show how certain
symbols have the power to either solidify myths as truth or subvert them by declaring them as fictional.