Brigid Tenenbaum

Lore & Background

Tenenbaum arrived in Rapture after surviving the Auschwitz concentration camp as the sole member of her family. Her survival was contingent on her usefulness in conducting Nazi human experiments. In Rapture, she worked with gangster Frank Fontaine, who provided funding for further experimentation. She discovered a species of sea slug capable of rewriting DNA, naming the substance ADAM. To maximize production, she established that little girls, known as Little Sisters, were the most effective hosts for the slugs. This process made ADAM widespread and highly addictive, causing users to degrade mentally and physically. Although Tenenbaum initially lacked empathy due to her Holocaust experiences and a singular adoration of science, she eventually developed compassion for the Little Sisters. She refused to continue working on them, leading to her replacement in the project.

In Their Own Story

During the events of BioShock, Tenenbaum crosses paths with the protagonist, Jack. She implores him to rescue the Little Sisters, who are guarded by Big Daddies. The player faces a choice: save the girls for less ADAM but receive other rewards, or kill them to gain more ADAM. Later, Tenenbaum and her cured Little Sisters assist Jack in tracking down Fontaine. After Jack drains the crime boss of his life-sustaining ADAM, he leaves Rapture with Tenenbaum and the rescued girls. In BioShock 2, she discovers new abductions near shorelines and returns to Rapture via submarine. There, she finds Sofia Lamb turning girls into Little Sisters again. Collaborating with Eleanor Lamb, who has a psychic connection to the children, Tenenbaum helps awaken Subject Delta, a Big Daddy. She successfully cures the dependency on ADAM before departing, leaving Delta under the care of Augustus Sinclair. In the Minerva's Den DLC, she works with Subject Sigma to retrieve the Thinker schematics from Reed Wahl, escaping Rapture with him after restoring his humanity.

Reader's Guide

Tenenbaum is portrayed by actress Anne Bobby and described as a highly functioning autistic individual whose lack of initial empathy stemmed from Holocaust trauma rather than her autism. Critics have analyzed her character extensively regarding her ethnicity, gender, and representation of autism. Some initially argued her indifference perpetuated the stereotype that people with autism lack empathy, but Ken Levine clarified that her moral corruption resulted specifically from her experiences in Auschwitz. She is viewed as a maternal figure who transitioned from a sadistic scientist to a nurturing savior. Her story highlights how trauma can cause victims to adopt their tormentors' methods before finding redemption. In the game mechanics, players can choose to save or harvest Little Sisters at Tenenbaum's request, directly influencing her role in the narrative and the protagonist's rewards.

Did You Know?

• Brigid Tenenbaum is a Belarusian Jew who was the sole survivor of her family after surviving Auschwitz by assisting in Nazi human experimentation.
• Ken Levine clarified that Tenenbaum's lack of empathy was caused by her Holocaust experiences, not her autism as initially suggested in interviews.
• Tenenbaum discovered ADAM, a DNA-altering substance derived from sea slugs, which became highly addictive and led to the creation of the Little Sisters.
• In BioShock 2, Tenenbaum returns to Rapture via submarine to investigate new abductions by Sofia Lamb and collaborates with Eleanor Lamb.
• Tenenbaum is portrayed by Anne Bobby and has been analyzed as a 'disturbing study in motherhood' who reflects her own monstrosity through the Little Sisters.