Angelina Dalles
Angelina Dalles |
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Kanji | アンジェリーナ・ダレス |
Rōmaji | Anjerīna Daresu |
Aliases | Jack the Ripper (with Grelle Sutcliff) Lady Red (former) |
Statistics | |
Species | Human |
Affiliation | Phantomhive |
Occupation | Doctor Jack the Ripper Aristocrat of Evil |
Base of Operations | London |
Debut | |
Manga | Volume 1, Chapter 3 |
Anime | Season 1, Episode 2 |
Voice Actors | |
Japanese | Romi Park Masako Katsuki (Drama CD) |
English | Lydia Mackay |
Baroness Angelina Dalles-Burnett (アンジェリーナ・ダレス, Anjerīna Daresu), nicknamed An and commonly referred to as Madam Red (マダム・レッド, Madamu Reddo), is a character in the anime and manga series Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji). A widow of Baron Burnett, younger sister of Rachel Phantomhive, and aunt of Ciel Phantomhive, Angelina is a renowned Aristocrat of Evil. She is one of the culprits behind the Jack the Ripper murders, conspiring with Grelle Sutcliff to target women in London.
Appearance
Apperance in Manga
Angelina Dalles, known as Madam Red, has a striking and bold appearance that aligns with her nickname. She has crimson red hair cut into a stylish bob, which complements her red eyes that give her a distinctive, somewhat mysterious look. Often seen wearing red lipstick, she enhances her dramatic and elegant presence.
Her typical outfit includes a red skirt paired with a red waistcoat and a ruffled white blouse, offering a contrast between the vibrant red and her more neutral top. She accessorizes with a red hat, adding a touch of sophistication to her attire. Completing her look, she wears black gloves which further emphasize her classy, yet menacing, character. On occasion, Madam Red carries a red parasol, which not only serves as a fashionable accessory but also enhances her enigmatic aura.
Her entire look exudes an air of elegance mixed with a sense of danger, making her a memorable and imposing character in the Black Butler series.
Personality
Angelina Dalles, also known as Madam Red, is an outgoing and somewhat frivolous character, known for her earthy sense of humor and unrestrained personality. She often displays a bold and daring attitude, evident in her suggestion that Sebastian Michaelis work for her due to his handsomeness, which she follows up with a casual stroke of his backside. Additionally, she once tried to make Undertaker laugh by telling him a dirty joke, showcasing her crude but charismatic nature.
Despite her tendency to be brash, Angelina holds some more traditional and complex views, especially concerning the behavior of women. She believes that ladies should act innocent, naive, fragile, and cheerful, particularly in the presence of their lords. She instilled this belief in her niece, Elizabeth Midford, encouraging her to adopt a demure and girlish demeanor.
Angelina’s deep love and devotion to her family are central to her character. She admires her sister, Rachel Phantomhive, who suffered from asthma, and it was her desire to cure her sister’s condition that led Angelina to pursue a career as a doctor. She also has a maternal affection for her nephew, Ciel Phantomhive, whom she treats as her own son. Despite their later adversarial positions, she cannot bring herself to harm him, which illustrates her complex emotions and deep care for him.
However, Angelina’s life has been marred by tragedy, deeply affecting her worldview. The loss of her family members, particularly in a tragic fire, led to a deep emotional trauma that fueled her eventual descent into violence. This pain manifests in her cruel disregard for human life, especially towards prostitutes, whom she murders as Jack the Ripper. Her grudge against them stems from her inability to give birth and her resentment of their abortions.
Angelina’s relationship with her red hair and the color red is symbolic of her internal conflict. Initially, she hated her red hair, which she inherited from her father, and tried to conceal it by keeping her bangs long. However, when the man she loved, Vincent Phantomhive, admired the color of her hair, she embraced it, taking pride in it and adopting the title “Madam Red.” After Vincent married her sister Rachel and she lost him in a tragic accident, Angelina’s affection for red soured. The death of her family and the resulting trauma caused her to see red as a reminder of her painful losses, making it both the color she identifies with and the one she despises the most.
This complex mixture of humor, love, bitterness, and trauma shapes Angelina into a multifaceted character, whose inner turmoil drives much of her actions in the Black Butler series.
History
Angelina Dalles, known as “Madam Red,” had a complicated and tumultuous life marked by both love and deep personal losses. Her love for Vincent Phantomhive began at the age of fifteen, but her dreams were shattered when she discovered that her sister, Rachel Phantomhive, was to marry him instead. Despite the pain of unrequited love, Angelina loved her sister deeply and tried to reconcile her feelings, supporting their marriage. However, after they married, Angelina came to despise the color red again, a color that had once held sentimental value for her.
Angelina was present at the birth of her nephew, Ciel Phantomhive, on December 14, 1875, and played an active role in his early life, often taking part in activities with him and his cousin, Elizabeth Midford. She later pursued a career as a doctor, even though her parents disapproved of her ambitions. Despite her success, Angelina found herself at odds with the high-society events she attended, often dressed in extravagant red gowns, earning the nickname “Lady Red” and later “Madam Red.”
In her personal life, Angelina later married Baron Burnett, a man who treated her with love and respect. Though she continued to harbor feelings for Vincent, her marriage was one of mutual affection. However, tragedy struck when her husband was killed in a carriage accident, and she was forced to undergo surgery that resulted in the loss of both her unborn child and her womb. This left her deeply scarred both physically and emotionally.
During her recovery, Angelina received frequent visits from Rachel, her sister, who provided her with comfort. But her life would take a darker turn. A decade after the accident, at Ciel’s tenth birthday party, Angelina arrived to find Phantomhive Manor in flames. The fire, with its devastating red hue, symbolized her personal turmoil and loss. Angelina was devastated to learn that both her sister and her brother-in-law had died in the fire, and Ciel’s body was never found. The tragic loss filled her with grief and resentment, especially as she became envious of her sister, who had died with the person she loved, while Angelina was left to carry on alone.
As a doctor, Angelina was confronted with the suffering of others, particularly prostitutes seeking abortions. This only added to her pain, as she often felt she was taking away life rather than preserving it. She began to target and kill those who requested abortions, believing they did not value their lives or happiness. During one of these murders, she met the Grim Reaper Grelle Sutcliff, who offered to assist her, and the two formed a partnership.
Months later, when Ciel returned alive with his butler, Sebastian Michaelis, Angelina was overjoyed. She did not press him for details about his disappearance, simply relieved that he had returned safely. She arranged for Ciel to return to the ruins of Phantomhive Manor and gave him the only surviving family crest ring from the fire.
When Ciel was officially decorated as the new Earl of Phantomhive, Angelina commented to Sebastian that he was like family to Ciel, a remark that made Sebastian uncomfortable, as he considered himself merely a servant and not a family member. This interaction reflected Angelina’s enduring care for Ciel, whom she had treated like her own son, despite the pain and loss she had endured.
Angelina’s life, marked by her deep love for her family, tragic losses, and descent into violence, illustrates her complex character as both a loving aunt and a ruthless killer, driven by grief and unresolved trauma.
Role in the Story
As an Aristocrat of Evil, Angelina maintains a double life, presenting herself as a respected noblewoman and skilled doctor while secretly engaging in heinous acts as Jack the Ripper.
Teaming up with Grelle Sutcliff, Angelina targeted women who sought abortions, channeling her grief and rage into a series of brutal killings. Her actions were driven by her inability to have children after a tragic accident and her resentment toward women who could.
Angelina’s bond with her sister Rachel and her nephew Ciel reveals her softer side. Despite her dark deeds, she harbored genuine love and care for Ciel, complicating her character and motivations.
Relationships
Ciel Phantomhive
Angelina deeply loved her nephew Ciel, often doting on him and offering him comfort after his parents’ death. However, her dark actions put her at odds with his role as the Queen’s Watchdog.
Grelle Sutcliff
Angelina collaborated with Grelle during the Jack the Ripper murders. Their partnership was marked by a shared bloodlust, though Angelina’s hesitations ultimately led to Grelle betraying her.
Rachel Phantomhive
Angelina’s relationship with her sister Rachel was one of admiration and affection. Rachel’s death deeply affected Angelina, contributing to her descent into grief and revenge.
Legacy
Baroness Angelina Dalles-Burnett, or Madam Red, is a tragic and multifaceted character in Black Butler. Her descent from a loving aunt and skilled doctor to a vengeful killer embodies themes of grief, loss, and the destructive power of unaddressed trauma. Her role in the Jack the Ripper murders and her complex relationships with Ciel and Grelle Sutcliff make her a pivotal figure in the series. Though her life ended in tragedy, Madam Red’s impact on the story and her layered character continue to resonate with fans of Black Butler.