A wealthy man with a terrifying blue beard struggles to find a wife, as his appearance frightens women away. Eventually, he marries a young woman who, despite her initial fears, is charmed by his hospitality. Shortly after their marriage, he departs on a business trip, granting her keys to his lavish estate but forbidding her from entering a specific closet. Driven by curiosity, she disobeys and discovers the gruesome fate of his previous wives, who he had murdered for their disobedience. In her panic, she drops the key, which becomes stained with blood, revealing her transgression when her husband returns. Confronted with her disobedience, he threatens her life. In a desperate plea, she asks for time to pray, calling for her sister to check for her brothers, who promised to visit. As she awaits their arrival, Blue Beard grows impatient and prepares to kill her. Just as he is about to strike, her brothers arrive just in time, killing Blue Beard and saving her. With her husband dead and no heirs, she inherits his wealth, using it to secure her sister's happiness and her own, marrying a worthy gentleman who helps her forget her traumatic past.
By Charles Perrault · First published 1697 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Horror, Fantasy