There seem to be a lot of stories throughout history that involve a woman’s inability to quell her curiosity, such as the story of Adam and Eve and Pandora’s Box, among others. These stories paint the female characters as easily tricked and lacking self-control. In the Brothers Grimm version of “Bluebeard”, though the maiden is forbidden from entering the one room, she is unable to resist her desire to see what’s inside. It is interesting that when her groom threatens to kill her and leaves her alone to pray, attempting to defend herself(something sharp, a blunt object perhaps?) or hide or run away aren’t even presented as an option in the story. She must instead rely on men (her brothers) to come save her.
In “The Robber Bridegroom”, the maiden is once again almost killed by her curiosity. She arrives at this house which she is afraid of because it is “so dark and dreary” yet still goes inside. A bird immediately warns her repeatedly that the house belongs to murderers who will kill her once they arrive home…yet she continues looking through the rooms. She is eventually helped by a woman BUT she is very old and therefore wise (though she was in possession of a sleeping potion and had apparently never tried to use it before to escape...). In each, the women are portrayed as somewhat naive and helpless.
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I deeply disagree with your assessment of these stories. While perhaps the Perrault maiden and the Bluebeard film we watched present a weak maiden, the Grimm one actually is presented as quite strong and takes the initiative often in saving herself. The fact that her curiosity drew her to open the door wasn't presented as definitely "weak" either.
ReplyDeleteIn the Robber Bridegroom, an old, wise woman is presented, and the woman in that tale does many great things as well, such as proving the guilt of evil robbers. While these stories are by no means delusional in their portrayal of women in a "Kill Bill" type fashion, they actually present strong women, but in a realistic manner.
I actually agree with the analysis about women in these stories. I did think it was strange that the old woman suddenly decided to escape with this girl as opposed to any of the ones before her, or even while the men were gone.
ReplyDeleteIn the Robber Bridegroom, the girl is a bit more clever with telling the story and keeping the finger to prove it, but admittedly, she does get herself into trouble in the first place because of her "curiosity."
But I do agree that in Bluebeard she is portrayed as weak in the face of temptation and entirely at the mercy of her husband (and her brothers' ability to rescue her in time).
They don't seem like particularly strong women to me...at least against modern standards.