Bluebeard: The Tale and Its Variants

Before becoming a part of this English class, I had never read or even heard of the story of Bluebeard. After reading it for the first time, I could see why it would be unpopular to some, especially children because of the graphic references to the dead bodies found. After I finished reading the tale and the different versions, I was intrigued how it was unique from other tales I've read. Instead of the cliche plot in which a girl is trying to find love in a male interest, the girl is this story is actually trying to get away from hers. However, I was displeased with Perrault's version because instead of putting the blame on the actual "villian", Bluebeard, he points the finger at the wife for going against his orders to not go through a certain door. He does so by showing the bad consequences for her disobedience as well as showing the consequences of the past wives. It doesn't surprise me much that he decides to justify Bluebeard's actions simply just because hes a man. In this case I think its really ridiculous. Its sad he tries to emphasize that a person's close call to death forced by another being is justifable. No one deserves to be killed by another person, no matter what they've done in my opinion.