The "Great Whore" of the Book of Revelation-the hostile symbolization used to illustrate the author's critique of empire-has attracted considerable attention in Revelation scholarship. Smith seeks to dismantle the either/or dichotomy within the "Great Whore" debate. Using postcolonial womanist interpretation of the woman Babylon, Smith highlights the simultaneous duality of her characterization-her depiction as both a female brothel slave and as an empress or imperial city. Most remarkably, however, Smith's reading also sheds light on her own ambivalent characterization as both a victim and participant in empire.

By Shanell T. Smith