Symbolism of Keys in Bluebeard

             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 ...

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