Edited by Andrew Lang
by Andrew Lang · from The Blue Fairy Book
Adapted Version
A rich man had a blue beard. He lived in a big house. He was a little strange. His name was Blue Beard. He wanted to marry a kind young woman. Her name was Lily. Lily married Blue Beard.
Blue Beard went away for a trip. He gave Lily many keys. He gave her a big ring of keys. "You can open all rooms," he said. "But do not open one small closet. This is my rule. Do not forget it."
Lily held the small key. The small key was special. It was shiny and old. She wanted to know. What was in the closet? She thought about the rule. But her wish to know grew big. She wanted to know.
Lily opened the closet door. The room was dark. She saw many broken things. She saw old toys and broken furniture. They were old and sad. These things showed Blue Beard was not kind. Lily felt very scared. She quickly closed the door.
Lily looked at the small key. It had a dark stain. The stain was like a dark spot. She tried to clean it. She tried to wash it off. The stain did not go away. It stayed on the key. Lily felt very worried.
Blue Beard came home. He came back very fast. He came back sooner than she thought. He asked Lily for his keys. "Give me all the keys," he said. Lily felt her heart beat fast.
Lily gave him the keys. Blue Beard saw the small key. His eyes were sharp. He saw the dark stain on it. He looked at Lily. "You did not listen," he said. "You opened the closet."
Blue Beard was very stern. He was very cross. His voice was loud. He was angry. "You did not follow my rule," he said. "You must leave." Lily felt sad and scared.
Lily asked for one moment. "Please wait a little," she said. She needed a little time. She thought of her brothers. She thought of her strong brothers. She hoped they would come. She hoped they would help her.
Just then, her brothers came. They rode their horses fast. They rode very fast. They came to the house. They saw Blue Beard. They stopped him. They made Blue Beard leave. Lily was safe now.
Lily was safe. She learned to listen to rules. It is important to always listen to rules. Too much looking causes trouble.
Original Story
Edited by Andrew Lang
CONTENTS
Story DNA
Moral
Disobedience and unchecked curiosity can lead to dire consequences.
Plot Summary
Blue Beard, a wealthy but terrifying man, marries a young woman and forbids her from opening one specific room in his castle. Overcome by curiosity, she disobeys and discovers the gruesome remains of his previous wives. Blue Beard returns, discovers her transgression via a magically blood-stained key, and prepares to kill her. However, her brothers arrive just in time to slay Blue Beard, saving her life and allowing her to inherit his vast fortune.
Themes
Emotional Arc
innocence to terror
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The tale is often linked to historical figures like Gilles de Rais, a French nobleman and serial killer, though the direct connection is debated.
Plot Beats (11)
- Blue Beard, a rich but terrifying man, marries a young woman.
- He departs on a trip, entrusting his wife with all his keys but forbidding her from opening one small closet.
- The wife's curiosity, fueled by her sister and friends, overwhelms her.
- She opens the forbidden closet and discovers the bodies of Blue Beard's previous wives.
- The key to the closet becomes magically stained with blood, which she cannot clean.
- Blue Beard unexpectedly returns and demands the keys.
- He notices the bloodstain on the forbidden key, confirming her disobedience.
- Enraged, Blue Beard tells his wife she will join his former wives.
- She begs for a moment to pray, hoping her brothers will arrive.
- Her brothers arrive and kill Blue Beard.
- The wife inherits Blue Beard's fortune and eventually remarries.
Characters
Andrew Lang
A man of average height and build, likely with a scholarly appearance, given his role as an editor and folklorist. His features would suggest a European, specifically Scottish, background.
Attire: Formal Victorian-era attire, such as a dark wool suit, a starched white shirt, and a tie or cravat. Perhaps a waistcoat and a pocket watch chain, indicative of a man of letters.
Wants: To collect, preserve, and present a wide array of fairy tales and folk stories to a broader audience, particularly children.
Flaw: Potentially overly academic or formal in his presentation, which might occasionally distance some readers.
Not applicable as he is the editor, not a character within a narrative arc.
Scholarly, meticulous, dedicated, appreciative of folklore, and a keen editor.
Locations
The Witch's Gingerbread House
A small cottage deep in a dense German forest, constructed entirely of gingerbread, cakes, and sugar, with windows made of clear sugar panes. The roof is thick with icing and candies, and the walls are adorned with various sweets. Inside, it is cozy but deceptively dangerous.
Mood: Initially enticing and magical, later becomes eerie and menacing
Hansel and Gretel discover the house, are lured in by the witch, and eventually outsmart her here.
Aladdin's Cave of Wonders
A vast, subterranean cavern in a remote Arabian desert, accessible only through a magical, sand-covered entrance. The cave is filled with mountains of gold coins, shimmering jewels, and ancient, ornate treasures. The air is still and heavy with the scent of dust and ancient magic.
Mood: Awe-inspiring, dangerous, filled with immense wealth and hidden perils
Aladdin retrieves the lamp and is trapped by the sorcerer, beginning his true adventure.
The Beast's Enchanted Castle
A sprawling, gothic French château, once grand but now appearing somewhat desolate and overgrown on the exterior. Inside, it is filled with opulent, yet melancholic, chambers, enchanted objects, and a magnificent library. The architecture features high vaulted ceilings, intricate carvings, and large, leaded-glass windows.
Mood: Melancholy, mysterious, gradually becoming warm and romantic
Beauty lives here with the Beast, gradually falling in love and breaking the curse.
Little Red Riding Hood's Forest Path
A winding, narrow dirt path cutting through a dense, ancient German forest. Tall, dark pine trees and gnarled oaks form a thick canopy overhead, dappling the path with shifting light and shadow. Wild berries and thick undergrowth line the path edges, and the air is cool and earthy.
Mood: Initially peaceful and innocent, quickly becomes foreboding and dangerous
Little Red Riding Hood encounters the wolf here on her way to her grandmother's house.