Comparison
Below is a brief comparison of some of the major aspects of these "Bluebeard" stories:
Author |
Charles Perrault |
Brothers Grimm |
Brothers Grimm |
Joseph Jacobs |
Country of Origin |
France |
Germany |
Germany |
England |
Bluebeard Figure |
Bluebeard |
Sorcerer – Fitcher |
Robber Bridegroom- Cannibal |
Mr Fox – Gentleman |
Female Character |
1 daughter becomes wife to bluebeard |
3 sisters. First 2 are killed. Third one becomes wife |
1 daughter |
Lady Mary Chooses to be betrothed to Mr Fox |
Setting
|
Bluebeard's house in the country
|
Sorcerer's house in the middle of a dark forest
|
Robber's house in a dark forest.
|
Mr Fox's castle
|
What happens to women |
Left in house. Finds bloody chamber full of dead women |
Left in house. Finds chamber full of dead woman. |
Forced to go to robbers house. Sees them kill a woman |
Chooses to go to Mr Fox's house. Sees him |
What female is forbidden to do |
Forbidden to enter small room that little key opens |
Forbidden to enter small room that little key opens |
Not forbidden to do anything |
Not forbidden to do anything |
Bloody Chamber
|
Small room with dead woman hanging on walls. |
Small room with a bloody basin in the middle filled with chopped up woman. |
No such room described. |
Room stained with blood, full of dead bodies. |
Significant object |
Magic key that once stained with blood, blood will not come off. |
Egg which daughter must carry everwhere they go. |
Ring on finger which lands on her lap |
Ring on hand which lands on her lap. |
Warning given |
Told if enter room there will be no limit to Bluebeard's anger |
Forbidden to enter room under penalty of death |
Bird warns that it is the house of a murder. |
Signs that say “Be bold, be bold, but not too bold” |
Who saves woman |
Brothers |
Third daughter saves herself and her sisters |
Old woman |
Lady Mary saves herself |
What happens to bluebeard figure |
Brothers kill him with swords |
Brothers and relatives of sisters set fire to house and sorcerer burns to death |
Handed over to authorities where he is executed |
Mr Fox is cut into pieces by brothers. |
Moral |
Not to be curious |