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Date of Award

Spring 2025

Document Type

Masters Project (Campus-Only Access)

Department or Program Affiliation

English Department

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

English

First Advisor

Giffen, Allison

Second Advisor

Araki-Kawaguchi, Kiik, 1983-

Third Advisor

Winrock, Cori A.

Abstract

This project examines the “Bluebeard” fairy tale, investigating the transgressive potential if acts of disobedience to create agency. It introduces the field of fairy tale scholarship, the history of the genre and its vogue in 17th-century France. Adding to the field of study, this piece puts forward that understanding the “Bluebeard” tales from a strictly patriarchal view diminishes the constant core of the story that remains through three centuries of retellings. Charles Perrault, who wrote the first published version of “Bluebeard”, had a social agenda that was situated in a gendered hierarchy, and his portrayal of the tale influenced how it moved forward in time. Perrault’s narrative focuses on curiosity and disobedience as vices, thus vilifying the feminine protagonist. By looking at other variants and modern retellings, it becomes clear that “Bluebeard” is a tale of resistance against oppressive structures and that disobedience is a life-saving mechanism. Disobedience creates agency for fairy tale characters where they may otherwise be harmed and allows them to move forward to defeat their villains. This project argues that there must always be “Bluebeard” stories to tell, so long as agents of oppression are allowed to continue cycles of violence.

Type

Text

Keywords

bluebeard, fairy tale, fairy tales, charles perrault, disobedience, folktales, oral tradition, angela carter, the bloody chamber, brothers grimm, fitcher's bird

Publisher

Western Washington University

OCLC Number

1523154406

Subjects – Names (LCNAF)

Bluebeard (Legendary character)--In literature; Perrault, Charles, 1628-1703. Barbe bleue--Criticism and interpretation

Subject – LCSH

Fairy tales--France--History and criticism--17th century; Curiosity in literature; Obedience in literature; Feminist literary criticism

Format

application/pdf

Genre/Form

masters theses

Language

English

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

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