Fairy Tales 2010

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Bluebeard and Gender Consequence

Curiosity is a theme that has reappeared in several fairytales that we have read this semester.

But I find the gender constructs surrounding curious characters troublesome. This is because in general, women are punished for their curiosity and men are praised for it. Curious women suffer consequences for their interest in the unknown and curious men are rewarded for their journey into the forbidden.

Perrault’s Bluebeard repeats this theme of female punishment for curiosity. It seems to me that fairytales have a way with internalizing what is appropriate behavior for women and men. And if the story of Bluebeard is to teach women anything, it is that they must learn to control their curiosity.

Aside from providing women with a model of behavior, the story of Bluebeard diminishes women by portraying them as beings without willpower, and dependants on the men in their lives for saving (in this case, her brothers). This subjugation of women is the norm in Perrault’s stories and this influenced his 17th century audiences and these structures, reinforced by fairytales such as Bluebeard, continue to influence gender understandings today.

1 comment:

  1. This idea of gender consequence is very interesting because in some respects, I feel like movies and books today, even real life, continue with this idea. It is much less noticeable and less harsh, but at the same time our society, just like these others, is still subconsciously concerned with the issues of gender and curiosity and what is deemed appropriate for each.

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