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Beauty And The Beast Analysis

Decent Essays

Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont wrote her well-known classic “Beauty and the Beast” in 1757 (Beaumont 26). This tale follows the basic outline of all beloved fairy tales: the heroine is mistreated but in the end lives happily ever after with a handsome prince. Although this version is the first, it is not the most well-known. That title would go to the Disney adaptations. There is one distinct difference between these two versions. In Beaumont’s tale, the Beast is kind to Beauty. Although Beauty recognizes the Beast’s unattractive outer appearance, she also recognizes his kindness, as displayed in this conversation between the two at the beginning of the story: “‘Tell me, don’t you find me very ugly?’ ‘That is true,’ said Beauty, ‘for I cannot tell a lie, but I believe you are very good natured’” (Beaumont 38). Beauty’s answer shows that she is not only beautiful but kind as well. She is trapped in the castle by the Beast, yet she still seeks to find the good qualities in her captor. Through Beauty's kindness towards the Beast, she was able to break the spell and live happily ever after. In Beaumont's version of “Beauty and the Beast,” the Beast is compassionate. Unlike the sisters' husbands, he is ugly on the outside, but handsome on the inside. The lesson taught in this fairy tale is kindness is more important than outward appearances.
Every night, the Beast would ask Beauty to marry him, and every night Beauty would refuse. She even said, “it is too bad he is so ugly,

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