ATU 312 - Maiden Killer
ATU 312 is mainly comprised of the tale "Bluebeard" and its variations, taken from Charles Perrault's "La Barbe Bleue" first published in 1697. Although there are earlier examples of this tale, the form in which it survives today is derived from this work. The story involves a man who had killed many previous wives taking another woman as his bride, and her discovery of the bodies brings about the threat of death from him for her curiosity. The story typically ends with the lady being saved by her brothers (with the help of her sister) and inhereting all of Bluebeard's wealth after he is slain. The character of Bluebeard may be inspired by historical figures, such as Gilles de Rais, a convicted serial killer from 16th century Brittany, or the early Breton king Conomor the Accursed and his wife, Tryphine. The story persists in today's popular culture, with the entry "Bluebeard" in the Merriam-Webster dictionary meaning "a man who marries and kills one wife after another".