The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research

Volume 14 Article 4

2013

Happily Never After

Edward Buell St. John Fisher College, [email protected]

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Abstract The research topic I addressed regarded the idealized concept of marriage and the “happy ending” seen in a majority of fairytales, compared to the darker Bluebeard tale that focuses on what happens after the marriage, a time frame rarely addressed. This tale places emphasis on material good as a means of entering marriages, which often causes members of the marriage to have limited knowledge of their spouse and the skeletons in their closets. This can lead to grave consequences such as loss of innocence, being placed in subordinate gender roles for women, and reliance on male saviors, all impacting both male and female identities. I use close reading of mainly the Perrault version of the “Bluebeard” tale and also some of the Brothers Grimm version to support my argument. I used a variety of secondary sources as well in order to provide another perspective and also to validate my claims.

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Happily Never After Edward Buell “And they lived happily ever after… over others (Bergoffen 20). Shunting girl’s the end.” The typical ending to traditional dreams to the side to make way for male fairytales forces one to wonder, what supremacy creates ideals that girls are happens after the wedding bells cease to intended to mold themselves into, regardless ring? What if things change and the of how much of themselves they lose along typically rushed marriages do not pan out, or the way. In Bluebeard’s time, the the spouse thought to be well known was not seventeenth century, women were meant to what they said they were? The “Bluebeard” be seen and not heard. This ideal was tales present an unusual type of fairytale that relevant to the time period of the rarely gets attention because it contrasts the “Bluebeard” tales. During this time period “norm” of the commonplace tale. marriages were arranged and dowries were Bluebeard, a serial murderer lures a maiden paid to families in exchange for wives, into marriage with his wealth but fails to objectifying women. Willing or not, a conceal his dark past in his chamber of woman entered marriages unknowing of the death. Clearly because the author has set man she was being assigned to for life. this story after the marriage has occurred, These ideals belittle women to mere pieces the reader obtains a perspective that is rarely of meat for males to pick from and devour, exposed in fairytales and reveals the Bluebeard’s specialty. implications of women’s inability to choose The often idolized institution a suitor. By looking at the combination of of marriage for girls in fairytales is women’s motives and Bluebeard’s actions, reinvented in the “Bluebeard” fairytales. we can see the emphasis in society on The girls in this tale are very reluctant to wealth and luxury as a precursor to wed the mysterious suitor but are forced marriage. This can have deadly through family obligations. Families forced consequences because women in fairytales their daughters into marriage and it was often choose lavish belongings over true imbedded into a girl’s mind that having a love and compatibility, leading to loss of wedding was her ultimate goal in life. innocence, inability to escape demeaning Marriage was seen an as instrument for gender roles, and subordination as a result of financial gain rather than to solidify their the unforeseen qualities in their spouse. relationship with their soul mate. These The entire institution of marriage for often forced matrimonies portray marriage women is detrimental to female as an institution that condemns females to a independence and many women are aware fate similar to prostitution. They are selling of this but still buy into this ideal. Men themselves to a man in exchange for wealth become the guardian of women’s and protection. More potent than reluctance reproductive and professional labors and is the apparent fear towards Bluebeard. control sexual relationships to benefit their There are many girls who run in fright from needs. Therefore, the system keeps women the ugly man and his blue beard. As author completely emotionally and physically at the Marina Warner explains, it is the blueness of mercy and duty of their male counterpart. his beard that makes the girls so afraid. She Woman’s destinies become marriage while elaborates by saying that it is because it male’s destinies are much greater; men makes him seem as if he is going against strive for power, wealth, and dominance human nature by producing something so

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frightening. Furthermore, she says that it is damsel in distress beyond her beauty. It not that he dyes his beard to make him look seems that the most important factors in all this way, but it is that he can create marriage are physical appearance and something so hideous on his own (Warner wealth; displaying both qualities is ideal, but 124). In Perrault’s tale two sisters fight with usually having one can overpower the each other because neither wants to be quality that is lacking. For example in forced into marriage with such a grotesque Perrault’s version of the Cinderella fairytale, creature. The hideous Bluebeard character “Donkeyskin”, the wealthy Prince saves the attempts to trick his brides-to-be to accept young girl from her incestuous father and him by using his plethora of wealth and miserable life as a kitchen hand because of lavish belongings. In this version of the tale, her unsurpassable beauty. Once revealed the fanciness of Bluebeard’s home and the from her suit of donkey skins, Perrault magnitude of riches is enough to get them writes, believing he was a “fine fellow” (Perrault 144). Perrault focuses heavily on these She arrived at the king’s possessions. He illustrates the numerous chambers and crossed the “tapestries,” “caskets” for jewels, and rooms in her ceremonial brilliant looking glasses (145). Clearly, the clothes whose radiant beauty emphasis on material goods overrides the had never been before seen. list of negative qualities of his character. Her lovely blonde hair Soon after the marriage, Bluebeard is glittered with diamonds that forced away from home on a business trip emitted a bright light with and the beginnings of a “happy” marriage their many rays. Her blue began to unravel. Once Bluebeard leaves the eyes, large and soft, were homestead, friends and neighbors flock to filled with proud majesty, but the house to see more of its glory. They never inflicted pain and gave were too frightened because of Bluebeard’s only pleasure when they appearance to visit when he was home. looked at you. Her waist was When describing the elation of the guests, so small and fine that you Perrault uses terms such as “splendid,” could encircle it with two “magnificent,” and “beauty” (145). Once hands. Even showing their again, having numerous rooms and frivolous charms and their divine belongings coincides with positive, praising grace, the women of the court vocabulary. These connections established and all their ornaments lost at a young age create the desire for material any kind of appeal by goods rather than emotional bonds, and comparison. (115) superficial play things rather than true love. Perrault’s diction surrounding the physical Emphasis on wealth can teach the attributes of the “princess, using words such reader that those who jump into as “radiant,” soft,” or “lovely” includes no relationships for the wrong reasons can meet mention of her intelligence, work ethic, or a completely unpredicted fate. Although life goals. The prince does not know this this tale is a much more extreme version of girl as an individual, yet he values her and marriage, it follows the same pattern as most wants her hand in marriage as a way to others: strangers marry strangers. No one possess her beauty. Who does not want a truly knows the person they are marrying; beautiful belonging to flaunt? Most just like the prince who never knows the fairytales exclude the elements after

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marriage because they do not want to of his character when opening his secret explore the possibility that there may not be chamber. Perrault writes, a “happy ending” after all. Fairytales may ‘Here,’ he said, ‘are the keys vary in plot, but when one considers the to my two large store rooms. basis of the relationships, they are all based Here are the ones for the gold on the same shallow, superficial pleasures. and silver china that is too All of Bluebeard’s wives choose to good for everyday use. Here marry Bluebeard based solely on his money, are the ones for my not his internal attributes or personality. strongboxes, where my gold This can clearly have a crippling mental and silver are kept. Here are impact if one’s person worth is valued or the ones for the caskets appreciated because of possessions and not where my jewels are stored. who they are, and may thus explain his And finally, this is the disastrous history with wives. Any rational passkey to all the rooms in person would not agree to wed Bluebeard, a my mansion. As for this complete stranger, based on the slaughter of particular key, it is the key to his previous wives. Originally, both sisters the small room at the end of use their better judgment and avoid his hand the long passage on the lower in marriage because of his savage ugliness, floor. Open anything you but one eventually concedes to the promise want. Go anywhere you for financial support and indulgence for her wish. But I absolutely forbid and her family. Perrault writes, “neither of you to enter that little room, the two girls wanted to marry him, and the and if you so much as open it offer went back and forth between them, a crack, there will be no limit since they added even more to their sense of to my anger.” (145) disgust was that he had already married several women, and no one knew what had This passage illustrates the dominating ways become of them” (144). These women had Bluebeard controls his wife’s actions. The ample warning about their imminent future author uses harsh, demanding language such but denied them because of the temporary as “forbid,” and “anger,” to characterize relief from their inadequate lives. This Bluebeard as dominant and oppressive in the shows that societies value being wealthy and eyes of Bluebeard’s wife. This tone and desired by a man as compared to being hostile commands are clearly no way to treat single, liberated and in control of one’s one’s wife and therefore enhances the welfare. Such narrow ideals place girls on a darkness of Bluebeard’s character Perrault path towards obedience and in the case of creates. Bluebeard also makes her believe Bluebeard’s wives, loss of innocence. that she has control, or a choice, over her Since Bluebeard has always been actions by providing her with all of the keys married because of his wealth, how is he to to his home. However, he stifles this liberty know if his wives are ever sincere and love by limiting how she can use her power. By him, or if it is always just a superficial testing his wives to see which will obey his relationship? In the fairy tale, Bluebeard one stipulation, he can determine which are gives each of his wives unlimited amounts greedy and only want to see if there is more of money in hope of making them happy to his fortune versus which will be enough so that they will not see the ugliness subordinate to his commands. If his current wife had gotten to know Bluebeard, beyond

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the size of his fortune, she would have his wives he will slaughter them. To his discovered his deadly secret or avoided him frightened wife, Bluebeard states, “you tried completely because of his corrupt history to enter that little room. Well, madam, now with women before her own life was on the that you have opened it, you can go right in line. and take your place beside the ladies who By entering Bluebeard’s chamber of you saw there” and “you must die death, it is very clear that his wife made a madam…and it will be right away” (146). fatal error in marrying Bluebeard without This forcefulness rips innocence and hope getting to know his true character and directly from the wife. Innocence is a tendencies. Plagued by curiosity, prized possession in girls and used to Bluebeard’s wife enters the forbidden room determine their worth when courting yet while Bluebeard is away on business and Bluebeard violently strips this and leaves sees the carcasses of Bluebeard’s previous them as worthless as the corpses in his wives, the shock causing her to drop the chamber. room key. Once the wives enter the chamber It is evident that there is a and witness the horrors inside, they lose dependence on men as saviors in Perrault’s their innocence forever. As Perrault states, version of the Bluebeard story, along with “having noticed that the key to the room was many other fairytales. As author Marcia stained with blood, [the wife] wiped it two Lieberman explains, rescuing is very or three times, but the blood would not come predictable for all fairytales and occurs in off at all” (146). As author Marina Warner any form of struggle ranging from abuse to explains, the contaminated key represents kidnapping to true loves magical kiss the wives betrayal of their husband’s wishes (Lieberman 391). Again, in this tale the and also establishes a test of loyalty which men have the power to determine the entire they fail miserably. The key can also be life of the woman, beginning with who she seen as a symbol of lost innocence. will marry, regardless of her opinion, where Bluebeard preys on young girls who have she can and cannot go within her home, and never been married or with a man before. whether she is killed or saved. This portrays Tied to betrayal, innocence cannot be women as completely helpless, a puppet on reinstated once lost. The blood that will not a string being pulled by her male rub off represents the inability to revert back counterparts. These gender roles limit to a state of innocence as well as how female freedom and boost the male authority Bluebeard kills these girls at a time of sexual when there is no protest to these roles. The maturation and childbearing (Warner). gender roles established in fairytales are Women are expected to be virgins at the both harmful for female and male readers by time of the marriage which ensures purity creating unrealistic expectations. While and giving herself to her husband. Blood women are being pressured into marriage dripping from the key represents the loss of and trained to be the ideal subordinate, this virginity or innocence. Because loss of passive women, males are simultaneously innocence was forced through such a violent being placed on pedestals. Males, from a encounter, one can notice a resemblance to young age, are being represented as rape. Although Bluebeard does not dominant, masculine, saviors in almost all physically rape his wives, his actions create tales. In “Bluebeard”, boys are taught that the same effects on developing girls. Taking they are the head of the household, can place away of a young girl’s innocence is almost a restrictions on women, and have control factor of attraction to him. He blatantly tells over their wife’s wellbeing. By

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understanding the behaviors of the brothers, and furthers her subordination to her readers can begin to make connections that husband’s orders. Also, as author Tivadar males are always dominant. Boys feel Gorilovics writes, Bluebeard’s wife shows pressure to be macho and constantly look for all the signs of a remorseful Christian a “weak” female that they can swoop in to women but Bluebeard displays no mercy rescue. Rather than looking internally to fix because he has this process down to a personal flaws they focus outward on science and is well versed in the pleas for helping others, ignoring their own salvation from his disobedient wives. Her weaknesses. This can be very detrimental brothers are simply messengers of justice, because if a young boy is not living up to coming to stop such a villainous sinner these interpreted roles, does this mean they allowing for a semi-peaceful resolution to are not a true man? This disconnect can such a gruesome ordeal (Gorilovics 20). lead to gender confusion and unwarranted Clearly, the reliance on male savior limits shame in possessing sensitive or more female independence and problem solving predominantly feminine characteristics. Not skills, teaching young readers that female every man must wave a sword, own a passivity brings salvation and reward. woman, or have a chamber of previous Although the current wife’s sister, wives in order to be a “man.” Sister Anne, appears to aid in the salvation In many fairy tales, it is displayed of the wife, she plays no role in the rescue that men are dominant over women. As and her ambiguous role makes her appear seen in Perrault’s morals section at the end disconnected or unaware of the dangerous of the tale, men are no longer as murderous situation her sister is in. While waiting for or traumatizing but the dominant role in the her brothers to save her, the current wife relationship is still apparent. He writes, “no screams to Sister Anne for assistance in longer are husbands so terrible, demanding getting her two brothers’ attention. Her the impossible, acting unhappy and jealous, sister replies, “I see nothing but the sun with their wives they toe in line; and shining and the green grass growing” and whatever color their beard might be, it’s not when pressed for information about the hard to tell which of the pair is master” brothers’ whereabouts, “no, oh no, sister, it’s (148). One example of this dominance is just a flock of sheep” (Perrault 147). Sister when Bluebeard discovers his wife’s Anne seems to be extremely clueless that betrayal. He gives her time to collect herself her sister is about to be murdered unless she before he slaughters her as he did his is saved by her brothers, thus making her previous wives. Instead of escaping or seem almost unattached to the story itself. fighting until she has no strength left, she Perrault’s characterization of Sister Anne waits for her brothers to save her on supports the theme of powerless women charging steads. Not only does she sit throughout the tale because her addition is around and wait for assistance, she “threw unimportant and insignificant. Perrault herself at her husband’s feet, weeping and oppresses women through the creation of his begging his pardon, with all signs of genuine female characters that lack the ability to regret for disobeying him (Perrault 146). save themselves. She is both literally and figuratively Perrault gives women little credit in lowering herself beneath her husband. By many of his fairytales by going against kneeling down she degrades herself by feminist goals, demeaning female begging at Bluebeard’s feet as though she is independence, and limiting women’s ability not worthy. This makes her seem inferior to save themselves from their troubles. This

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is contrasted in the Brothers Grimm version examples of it every day. Women succumb, of the “Bluebeard” tale, “Fitcher’s Bird,” but it’s a fleeting pleasure; as soon as you where the female character is empowered satisfy it, it ceases to be. And it always and saves herself and her two sisters based proves very, very costly” (148). The on her own wit. As compared to Perrault’s emphasis on women being in the wrong version of “Bluebeard” where the wife waits teaches the reader that women who do not idly for assistance, in the Brothers Grimm follow every order given to them deserve to version, the third sister puts the pieces of her be slaughtered. Perrault specifically targets dead sisters (previously slaughtered wives) women in this moral section rather than back together, magically reviving them. She broadening his statement to all of mankind. then tricks her husband into carrying them He then uses the word, “you” which seems back to their home and upon his return, to be an attack on his female readers as well. locks him inside and torches the house, These morals further oppressive stereotypes killing him. This version is very unique of women and vilify the innocent while because the wife thought of the idea to ignoring the true monster. “[crawl] into a barrel of honey, cut open a The uniqueness of the concept of featherbed and [roll] in the feathers until she marriage in the “Bluebeard” tale makes it looked like a strange bird that a soul would exceptionally effective because it stands out not recognize” in order to lure the husband compared to the myriad of less violent inside his home with her bird song (Grimm marriages in fairytales. As Maria Tatar and Grimm 150). The Grimm Brothers give explains, “Bluebeard” is extremely original females the capacity and opportunity to in its idea that marriage can be “an make decisions on their own, allowing for institution haunted by the threat of murder” female readers to feel confident that they are (139). In many other fairytales, marriage is as capable as men in areas of problem the solution to all problems, not the solving and mental strength, which is beginning of demise. The “Bluebeard” tale refreshing when placed next to Perrault’s has much less of a clique outcome compared version. Feminists would agree that to most fairytales. Having a perfect life and Perrault’s degradation of women gives them relationship with someone is nonexistent a negative reputation because they are because everyone experiences struggles dependent on others when facing their along the way. Although not every spouse hardships. ends up as a psychotic murderer, nowadays In the “Bluebeard” tale, females are many relationships end in divorce because subordinate to the dominating ways of the the person they thought they knew and males. A very important piece of married, changed or was not who they Bluebeard’s chamber is the element of expected. disobedience that drives the wife’s actions. Hardly any fairytales expose post Bluebeard deliberately told her not to enter marital life and as a result young readers that specific room but curiosity got the view marriage as an end point in life. As better of her. In the morals section of the author Marcia Lieberman explains, out of fairy tale, Perrault makes it very clear that the popular collection of fairytales, The Blue the blame is on the wives for disobeying Fairy Book, only a few stories out of the their husbands rather than on Bluebeard who thirty even go into aspects of marital life. is a serial killer. Perrault writes, “curiosity, Eighteen of the thirty literally end in the in spite of its many charms, can bring with it ceremony. Although there may be multiple serious regrets; you can see a thousand weddings in the book, the reader rarely gets

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a perspective of married life (394). This is flaws in their spouses, leading to imminent very startling because from a young age, loss of innocence, subordination to male girls are indoctrinated with the concept that orders, and acceptance of traditional gender marriage in the main goal in one’s life. How roles, all harming female and male sense of can this be if they are never given any identity. “Bluebeard” is a fairytale that is information about what to expect? Girls rarely read because of its unusual violent who do not want marriage to be the main tendencies and graphic imagery. Many do focus in their lives are seen as “stuck up” for not know this tale simply because it has not denying a man’s hand (393). This puts even been commercialized through a Disney film more pressure on girls to conform to societal adaptation. This is disheartening because it ideals to avoid being viewed as an outcast. is a valuable critique on traditional fairytales Marriage is constantly promoted as the main and their obsession with marriage. There is goal and therefore becomes an end point in a need for more exposure to the “Bluebeard” one’s life rather than a new beginning. By tale because it warns both males and females constantly authoring tales of marriage, and about the pitfalls of acting according to by having it as the focal point in fairytales societal assigned gender roles and the over read to girls, they are being set up for a significance of material possessions. Happy period of uncertainty in their lives. endings are forced upon the reader because When analyzing the common phrase most people would rather marry a stranger in fairytales, “they lived happily ever after,” that they may not be in love, with in order the authors place a clear emphasis on not to be alone and to be supported or “lived.” “Lived” is a past tense verb as protected. Marriage in fairytales has though both are dead. Through the marriage become an instrument to move up the social both Bluebeard and his wife have destroyed ladder and a means to a higher reward no each other in different ways (Barzilai 510). matter the restraints, rather than an Bluebeard both emotionally slays his wives expression of love. By misusing the and then physically disposes of their bodies institution of marriage, both women and in his bloody chamber. His current wife, in men fall into stereotyped gender roles. return, has her brothers kill Bluebeard Women become discouraged from achieving before he has the chance to kill their sister. their life goals or obtaining roles of power When reading fairytales, this terminology is because they believe a man will create their often overlooked. When taken literally it true happiness. True love defies these ideals forces the reader to address why a past tense and separates duties more equally by version of their “happiness” is ensured to the disregarding societal norms. “Bluebeard” is reader but never observed. A happy ending an example of consequences that arise when does not really occur; it is a mechanism to an individual bases their happiness on keep society assuaged because the couple superficial characteristics instead of true assaulted each other to the point where their love. happiness is now a past tense, fleeted moment. References By analyzing different elements of Perrault and the Brothers Grimm versions of Barzilai, Shuli. "The Bluebeard Barometer: “Bluebeard,” society’s idea about marriage Charles Dickens and Captain is that it is for economic prosperity Murderer." Victorian Literature and regardless of the consequences. This is Culture. 32.2 (204): 504-524. Print. proved by overlooking atrocious character

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Bergoffen, Debra. "Marriage, Autonomy, and the Feminine Protest." Hypatia. 14.4 (1999): 18- 35. Print. Gorilovics, Tivadar. "Secrets Of The Forbidden Chamber: Bluebeard." Secret Spaces, Forbidden Places: Rethinking Culture. 1. New York, NY: Berghahn, 2000. 17-28. Print. Grimm, Jacob, and Wilheim Grimm. "Fitcher's Bird." The Classic Fairy Tales. Ed. Maria Tatar. 1. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, Inc., 1999. 148-151. Print. Lieberman, Marcia R. ""Some Day My Prince Will Come": Female Acculturation through the Fairy Tale." College English. 34.3 (1972): 383-395. Print. Perrault, Charles. "Bluebeard." The Classic Fairy Tales. Ed. Maria Tatar. 1. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, Inc., 1999. 144-148. Print. Perrault, Charles. "Donkeyskin." The Classic Fairy Tales. Ed. Maria Tatar 1. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, Inc., 1999. 109-116. Print. Warner, Marina. "Bluebeard's Brides: The Dream of the Blue Chamber." Grand Street. 9.1 (1989): 121-130. Print.

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