TV-Series
Description
Madame Red, whose birth name is Angelina Durless, is the younger sister of Rachel Phantomhive and the maternal aunt of Ciel Phantomhive. She is also known as the widow of Baron Barnett, having held the title of Lady Barnett. She is introduced as a prominent figure in high society, where her flamboyant personality and striking appearance earn her the nickname Madam Red. This name derives from her signature crimson hair and her preference for wearing only red clothing, a habit she adopted after a compliment from Vincent Phantomhive, her sister’s future husband, transformed her earlier dislike of her red hair into a defining feature.
Angelina’s background is marked by unrequited love and profound loss. She was initially shy and bookish, but after Vincent Phantomhive noticed and praised her red hair, she developed a deep affection for him. However, Vincent married her sister Rachel instead. Angelina eventually moved on and married Baron Barnett, who loved her despite knowing of her lingering feelings for Vincent. She pursued medical studies and became a doctor, a rare profession for a woman in Victorian England, and she took great pride in her work, often treating female and child patients. She also grew to regard her nephew Ciel as a surrogate son.
Tragedy struck when a carriage accident killed Baron Barnett and caused Angelina to miscarry her unborn child. The resulting injuries left her permanently unable to conceive again. She arrived at the Phantomhive manor just after it burned down, witnessing the destruction that also claimed the lives of her sister and brother-in-law. The compounded grief of losing her husband, child, sister, and the man she loved drove her into a state of deep despair.
Her personality outwardly appears loud, outspoken, and flamboyant. She enjoys teasing Ciel and Sebastian, often making risqué remarks and openly flirting with admirers at social gatherings. She is also known to be surprisingly coarse for a lady of her standing. Despite this carefree facade, she harbors intense emotional pain. Her motivations stem from her inability to bear children and her resentment toward women who, in her view, take the ability to have children for granted. This anguish leads her to begin murdering prostitutes who seek abortions, an act that brings her into contact with Grell Sutcliff, a grim reaper. Grell becomes her accomplice, posing as her butler, and together they carry out a series of killings that become known as the Jack the Ripper murders.
In the story, Madame Red functions as a significant antagonist during the early arc. She presents herself as a doting aunt who genuinely cares for Ciel, but her secret identity as a serial killer places her in direct opposition to him and his butler, Sebastian Michaelis. Her relationship with Grell is one of mutual convenience; Grell admires her courage and her willingness to take justice into her own hands, while she relies on his assistance to continue her spree. Her bond with Ciel is complex: she truly loves him and sees him as her own son, but her obsession with punishing women who waste their fertility leads her to a confrontation with him.
Her character development traces a tragic arc from a hopeful young woman to a grief-stricken serial killer. When Ciel discovers the truth, she initially attempts to kill him but cannot bring herself to do so because his face reminds her of his mother, Rachel. This moment of hesitation proves fatal: Grell kills her, declaring that she is no longer fit to wear red. She receives a proper funeral, and Ciel quietly refers to her as Aunt Ann, indicating his lingering affection despite her crimes.
Notable abilities include her medical expertise, which she uses both in her legitimate practice and to commit her murders efficiently. Her education and status as a female doctor give her a keen intellect and access to anatomy, which aids her in her killings. She also possesses a sharp social intuition and uses her charm to navigate high society while concealing her double life. Overall, Madame Red is a figure shaped by loss, driven by a twisted sense of justice, and ultimately undone by the remnants of the love she still holds for her family.
Angelina’s background is marked by unrequited love and profound loss. She was initially shy and bookish, but after Vincent Phantomhive noticed and praised her red hair, she developed a deep affection for him. However, Vincent married her sister Rachel instead. Angelina eventually moved on and married Baron Barnett, who loved her despite knowing of her lingering feelings for Vincent. She pursued medical studies and became a doctor, a rare profession for a woman in Victorian England, and she took great pride in her work, often treating female and child patients. She also grew to regard her nephew Ciel as a surrogate son.
Tragedy struck when a carriage accident killed Baron Barnett and caused Angelina to miscarry her unborn child. The resulting injuries left her permanently unable to conceive again. She arrived at the Phantomhive manor just after it burned down, witnessing the destruction that also claimed the lives of her sister and brother-in-law. The compounded grief of losing her husband, child, sister, and the man she loved drove her into a state of deep despair.
Her personality outwardly appears loud, outspoken, and flamboyant. She enjoys teasing Ciel and Sebastian, often making risqué remarks and openly flirting with admirers at social gatherings. She is also known to be surprisingly coarse for a lady of her standing. Despite this carefree facade, she harbors intense emotional pain. Her motivations stem from her inability to bear children and her resentment toward women who, in her view, take the ability to have children for granted. This anguish leads her to begin murdering prostitutes who seek abortions, an act that brings her into contact with Grell Sutcliff, a grim reaper. Grell becomes her accomplice, posing as her butler, and together they carry out a series of killings that become known as the Jack the Ripper murders.
In the story, Madame Red functions as a significant antagonist during the early arc. She presents herself as a doting aunt who genuinely cares for Ciel, but her secret identity as a serial killer places her in direct opposition to him and his butler, Sebastian Michaelis. Her relationship with Grell is one of mutual convenience; Grell admires her courage and her willingness to take justice into her own hands, while she relies on his assistance to continue her spree. Her bond with Ciel is complex: she truly loves him and sees him as her own son, but her obsession with punishing women who waste their fertility leads her to a confrontation with him.
Her character development traces a tragic arc from a hopeful young woman to a grief-stricken serial killer. When Ciel discovers the truth, she initially attempts to kill him but cannot bring herself to do so because his face reminds her of his mother, Rachel. This moment of hesitation proves fatal: Grell kills her, declaring that she is no longer fit to wear red. She receives a proper funeral, and Ciel quietly refers to her as Aunt Ann, indicating his lingering affection despite her crimes.
Notable abilities include her medical expertise, which she uses both in her legitimate practice and to commit her murders efficiently. Her education and status as a female doctor give her a keen intellect and access to anatomy, which aids her in her killings. She also possesses a sharp social intuition and uses her charm to navigate high society while concealing her double life. Overall, Madame Red is a figure shaped by loss, driven by a twisted sense of justice, and ultimately undone by the remnants of the love she still holds for her family.