Symbolism Of Keys In Bluebeard Essay, Research Paper
The use of a key in a literary piece is an important
element to symbolize a higher meaning within a story. A
key could represent many different meanings. For
instance, in the story Bluebeard , the key could
represent life or death, knowledge, or the ability to
open a whole new dimension within the story. The key
signifies a very unique power in the story Bluebeard .
When Bluebeard hands the key ring to his wife with the
instruction to never utilize the small key to the
cellar, he essentially gave her the power of life,
knowledge, understanding, and the ability to open a new
dimension within the story. In Women Who Run with the
Wolves , Clarissa Estes states, The Bluebeard story is
about a captor, the dark man who inhabits all women s
psyches, the innate predator (pg. 43). Bluebeard ruled
his wife from the beginning, he was essentially her
captor. Bluebeard gave his wife the freedom to do
anything her heart desires, but he still held her
captive on his land. When he handed her the key ring and
specifically told her not to use the small key he was
utilizing his predator powers. It is ironic that in
Bluebeard , the captor gives away the key that unlocks
the wife s spirit. The key is a symbol of life for the
wife and death for Bluebeard. If the woman obeyed her
husband and ignored her intuition the key would have
symbolized the opposite. The key represents the woman s
intuitive knowledge to revolt against her husband. If
the woman had trusted her intuitive knowledge she
wouldn t have freed herself from the arms of her
predator. Finally, the key represents the ability to
open a new dimension within the story. When the women
open the door, the reader can envision a different side
of Bluebeard, the dark side. As the story progresses,
the reader experiences shifting feelings toward
Bluebeard. In the beginning, the reader is apprehensive
about trusting Bluebeard because of the feelings the two
older sisters expressed toward him. After the youngest
sister marries Bluebeard some of the ill feelings
subside. After the key is used and Bluebeard returns and
tries to kill his wife, the darker side of Bluebeard is
revealed. A key is an important symbol in literary
stories. It could represent many underlying and unseen
forces. In the story Bluebeard , the key represents
life/death, knowledge, and the key allows the reader to
envision a new dimension in the story.