Linda Seger's hero myth from her publication "Creating the Myth" is very thorough in the steps involved in creating a hero of a story. All ten steps are very common to a typical hero story. However, there are some gaps in her theory. An example of a story that does not fit Seger's theory is the Disney version of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. This popular cultural phenomenon has within it an atypical hero, one who pokes holes in Seger's hero myth theory. This atypical hero, simply named Beast, does not fit all ten of the steps in a typical hero story.
It is obvious that Beast does not fit Seger's theory the moment he is introduced in the story. He described as a "spoiled, selfish, and unkind prince [with] no love in his
…show more content…
Seger states that in fairy tales "an old woman, a dwarf, a witch, or a wizard helps the hero . . . The hero achieves the goal because of this help, and because the hero is receptive to what this person has to give" (173). Conversely, Beast is helped by the very damsel he imprisons. Belle is a normal woman, not a witch or a wizard; she has no special powers and is not old or dwarfish in any way. Also, Beast is extremely reluctant to accept any help from her. In the Disney version of the story, Belle tries to teach Beast how to control his temper and be more compassionate and loving. Beast is not receptive at all to this help throughout the story, but still manages to defeat the curse left on him by a self revelation. He decides after Belle's departure from his castle to learn to love and be kindhearted. Although her help may have had an impact on his transformation, it was the mere presence of her and his own self conscience that ultimately helped him conquer his relentless curse. This is quite different from what Seger illustrates in her hero myth theory.
Furthermore, the sixth through the eighth steps in Seger's hero theory do not apply to Beast's situation in Beauty and the Beast. In these steps, according the Seger, the hero
begins all his tests and obstacles necessary to overcome evil . . . In
Both Beasts are willing to do and give anything for beauty and the girl to keep them happy. Although Beast kept beauty hostage, he is gentleman enough to give her, her own space if she does not want anything to do with him: “you alone are mistress here; you need only bid me gone, if my presence is troublesome, and I will immediately withdraw” (LePrince de Beaumont 6). Beast being kind to Beauty is important because the goal is for her to want to stay with him forever. Since he shows compassion and
The story of the Beauty and the Beast is well known amongst all ages. Though the story they portray in the Disney version is much different than what they have portrayed it in France. La Belle et la Bête has been produced twice, once in 1946 and again in 2014. These two movies tell the same story but in very different ways. The perception of this story has changed between the different time periods.
The stories of heroes have been at the axis of nearly all cultures throughout history. Each different type of religion or culture has their own heroes or legends, each one of them having their differences to go along with the beliefs at hand. On the other hand, each and every hero also has their similarities, which therefore makes them the hero. The setting, events, and characters in each and every story may change, but the characteristics of the hero remain basically the same. Each person is usually made into a hero in a somewhat similar fashion. For example, many heroes begin as imperfect characters, and then begin some sort of quest which leads to them becoming a leader of what they are doing, and then the character goes through a
To begin, Linda Seger’s article demonstrates how the idea of a hero is universal and is defined by their journey, which is incorrect because other cultures might define a hero as something else. In her article, she tries using ten stages of how a hero is sometimes just an ordinary person. Who then takes in order
Compare and Contrast the ways in which modern authors have re-imagined traditional narratives for their own purposes.
In the movie “Beauty and the Beast”, the role of a man and woman in an abusive relation is practically spelled out and strait from Disney’s female lead jar. Belle is kidnaped by the Beast and forced o live in the dungeon until her father is ripped away from her. During this time she is completely defenseless to the Beasts onslaught and often retreats within herself and rarely confronts him. Beast on the other hand, portraying an abusive male, does everything to a tee. He yells, bangs on doors, throws furniture, and even threatens starvation when Belle goes against him. Belle, being the kind and gentle female lead, looks past all his rage and finds he prince inside; highlighting the common problem in abusive relationships. The abused partner holding onto the hope that their abuser will change, that they will love them and show them the tenderness that used to be there. Women (could also be men) are supposed to take the abuse and wait it out, showing nothing but love while the abuser rampages and eventually, things will be just like the fairy tales.
The first character to be discussed is Belle, in the original book. An author online even states “The original Beauty and the Beast Story is not what you expect” ( S. Paul). What is unique about Belle in the book is that she is the youngest of six children, which is never shown in the movie. Her father is not an inventor either, but is a very wealthy merchant who loses his fortune. The whole family in the original was forced to move to the country, where they had to live much more simple. Belle is a very special girl though, with very jealous older sisters of her beauty but also the fact that she is able to not be miserable in such a simple lifestyle.
Referring back to fairytales like Beauty and the Beast film which involves the beast who magically got turned into a beast as a disciplining act because of his selfishness. Then a beautiful young women by the name of Belle, got imprisoned in the castle. The beast is very fond of Belle since he first laid eyes on her. During the movie Belle being the catalyst for the Beast’s need of wanting to change. But he distances himself from her because he has two mindsets. Which is a man and the other is a raging beast. The beast is going through trying to
“Beauty and The Beast” is a classic well known romantic Disney movie that depicts the gender role of men and women in society. The film is based upon a smart young female protagonist named Belle who is imprisoned by a self-centered young prince after he has been turned into a beast. They both learn to love each other in the end and throughout the film there are several examples shown portraying the roles of gender. In the film the main characters Gaston and the Beast portray themselves as rude, conceited and more important than the woman even though the main character Belle is a woman whom is considered odd, yet smart, and unrelated to most women in society.
Belle was kind to the Beast, and then she found her prince. It took courage to look into the eyes of someone that took away everything and see the good.
The beast is described as this dreadful monster, the epitome of a masculine figure. He is a provider for beauty and her family and is therefore suppose to be seen as a dominant figure in the story. In the book Go! Be A Beast: Beauty and the Beast written by Marina Warner, Warner says “Beauty stand in need of the Beast, rather than vice versa, and the Beast beastliness is good, even adorable''(Warner 416). By the end of the story it is realize that the Beast is really dependent on Beauty and not vice versa. Without Beauty acceptance and true love kiss, the beast isn’t able to become the handsome guy he truly is. Therefore the beast would be left to live a life of
Although many view children's fiction as suitable only to children, and an embarrassingly immature pursuit for a serious person, children' stories mold the way we think. They allows us to look at very complex and difficult issues in a safe and playful way, and they give us the freedom to imagine the unimaginable.
There are many different versions of Beauty and the Beast; It is a magical story of unconditional love. It teaches children that beauty is much more then skin deep. In this assignment I am to compare two, Beauty and the Beast stories; one by the renowned, famous Grimm Brothers as presented by Disney. The other called Beastly by the modern author Alex Flinn. The two versions have many similarities but still quite a few differences.
In Short, in the motion picture Beauty and the Beast (2017), there is the Beast who is cursed by an enchantress at the beginning of the movie because he had no love in his heart and she turned him into a hideous Beast. The only way that the Beast can become human again is if he falls in love and revives the same love in return before the last Rose petal drops. The character
Beauty and the Beast is a tale that describes the true meaning of family, and the sacrifices that occur. Beauty makes a lot of sacrifices throughout the tale for the purpose of family, unlike her two older sisters. “Beauty got up every day at four in the morning and started cleaning the house and preparing breakfast for the family. It was hard at first, because she was not used to working like a servant.”