Bluebeard Shelby, Joe, Sierra 5 th Period

Bluebeard Originally written by Charles Perrault, this story is about a man who marries 7 different times, each time killing his wife and hanging her in a small room. When he marries his 7 th wife, he gives her a key to the “room.” He trusts her to not open the door, which as we all know is not a very smart decision. She opens the door and finds the 6 dead wives. When he sees she has betrayed him, he tries to kill her. Thankfully her brother comes to her rescue and kills Bluebeard. Click here to watch a short clip on Bluebeard -

Distrust A main theme of the story is distrust. Bluebeard is trusting his wife’s trustworthiness Bluebeard is trusting his wife’s trustworthiness By giving her the key, he opened the door for testing By giving her the key, he opened the door for testing She breaks his trust by opening the door, thus finding his dead wives She breaks his trust by opening the door, thus finding his dead wives

Curiosity Another theme of the story is curiosity Another theme of the story is curiosity The phrase “curiosity killed the cat” fits well with this story The phrase “curiosity killed the cat” fits well with this story Many authors make the argument that curiosity is a negative trait in women Many authors make the argument that curiosity is a negative trait in women Her curiosity was the main problem, that was what got her in trouble Her curiosity was the main problem, that was what got her in trouble

Sex Many authors have found sexual metaphors within this folk tale Many authors have found sexual metaphors within this folk tale The key was a test of virtue, would she be faithful to him when he is gone? The key was a test of virtue, would she be faithful to him when he is gone? The blood on the key represents uncleanliness. The blood can’t be washed away and in a sense, the woman's soul or body is dirtied by her unfaithfulness. The blood on the key represents uncleanliness. The blood can’t be washed away and in a sense, the woman's soul or body is dirtied by her unfaithfulness. We assume that every wife was tested in a manner similar to this and since she couldn’t be trusted to stay away from a door, she obviously couldn’t be trusted to stay faithful to him while he’s gone so he killed the woman. This happened 6 times. We assume that every wife was tested in a manner similar to this and since she couldn’t be trusted to stay away from a door, she obviously couldn’t be trusted to stay faithful to him while he’s gone so he killed the woman. This happened 6 times.

Why Does It Matter? This story shows the sexual and intellectual differences in men and women This story shows the sexual and intellectual differences in men and women It also shows the power of curiosity and how deadly it can be It also shows the power of curiosity and how deadly it can be Many view it as a warning to women – be faithful to your husband or else Many view it as a warning to women – be faithful to your husband or else

Allusions in Other Texts Jane Eyre Jane Eyre "I lingered in the long passage to which this led [...] with only one little window at the far end, and looking, with its two rows of small black doors all shut, like a corridor in some Bluebeard’s castle" "I lingered in the long passage to which this led [...] with only one little window at the far end, and looking, with its two rows of small black doors all shut, like a corridor in some Bluebeard’s castle" Phantom of the Opera Phantom of the Opera The main character unmasks the monsters’ face The main character unmasks the monsters’ face Pandora’s Box Pandora’s Box A story of how a woman must face curiosity A story of how a woman must face curiosity

What to Recognize Bluebeard in Other Texts Distrust Distrust Love=money Love=money Tarnished Virtues Tarnished Virtues Tests of Loyalty Tests of Loyalty Locked corridors Locked corridors