Tommi Christoff
Dr. Johnson-Lewis
HUM 1020
Beauty and the Beast Beauty and the Beast is a traditional fairy tale written by French novelist Jeanne-Marie le Prince de Beaumont and published in 1756. There have been many recreations of the short story, including Disney’s animated film, Beauty and the Beast, a personal favorite. Beaumont’s short-story has gotten her a lot of specific attention; it was even described by Joan Hinde Stewart as “without doubt the best-known work of fiction published by any woman in the eighteenth century.” (P. Schaller 1.) Funny that the quote specifically called Beaumont out as a woman and her story, Beauty and the Beast, has been credited to be one of the most feministic stories in that time. The story is not exactly …show more content…
During this time, France was rich with land suitable for farming, so it would make sense that farming was what Beauty’s merchant father immediately took on when things went downhill. Also during this time, most of France was illiterate and without schooling. This was another thing that alienated Beauty from her sisters, she loved to read and was very intelligent. Another typical thing found in French society was that the people loved to show off their status with their elaborate fashion and those that could afford it, their grand homes. It was very common for people to be uppity, much like Beauty’s two sisters—they only cared about their fancy clothes and expensive lifestyles. Beauty was not that kind of girl. When the family no longer had money, Beauty was the only daughter to take up working with her father to earn their wages. Overall, Beauty and the Beast was very nicely lined up with the times in France of the …show more content…
A good explanation is found in Susan Swan’s article on Gothic romance. Gothic romances became very popular with women during the 1750s because it allowed the female reader to have access to aspects of life that were “not supposed to exist.” (S. Swan 353.) Women weren’t typically seen to do great things. They were expected to clean the house, cook the food, and prepare their husband for work the next day. Anyone could understand why this would frustrate a woman and why Gothic romance was seen as a getaway from this typical lifestyle. In Beauty and the Beast, Belle could definitely be admired for her strength and nobility. She stood up for herself and sacrificed her life for her father. She was against the everyday norm and even against social norms in general. She was sure to be seen as a hero in a female’s
Dr. Johnson-Lewis
HUM 1020
Beauty and the Beast Beauty and the Beast is a traditional fairy tale written by French novelist Jeanne-Marie le Prince de Beaumont and published in 1756. There have been many recreations of the short story, including Disney’s animated film, Beauty and the Beast, a personal favorite. Beaumont’s short-story has gotten her a lot of specific attention; it was even described by Joan Hinde Stewart as “without doubt the best-known work of fiction published by any woman in the eighteenth century.” (P. Schaller 1.) Funny that the quote specifically called Beaumont out as a woman and her story, Beauty and the Beast, has been credited to be one of the most feministic stories in that time. The story is not exactly …show more content…
During this time, France was rich with land suitable for farming, so it would make sense that farming was what Beauty’s merchant father immediately took on when things went downhill. Also during this time, most of France was illiterate and without schooling. This was another thing that alienated Beauty from her sisters, she loved to read and was very intelligent. Another typical thing found in French society was that the people loved to show off their status with their elaborate fashion and those that could afford it, their grand homes. It was very common for people to be uppity, much like Beauty’s two sisters—they only cared about their fancy clothes and expensive lifestyles. Beauty was not that kind of girl. When the family no longer had money, Beauty was the only daughter to take up working with her father to earn their wages. Overall, Beauty and the Beast was very nicely lined up with the times in France of the …show more content…
A good explanation is found in Susan Swan’s article on Gothic romance. Gothic romances became very popular with women during the 1750s because it allowed the female reader to have access to aspects of life that were “not supposed to exist.” (S. Swan 353.) Women weren’t typically seen to do great things. They were expected to clean the house, cook the food, and prepare their husband for work the next day. Anyone could understand why this would frustrate a woman and why Gothic romance was seen as a getaway from this typical lifestyle. In Beauty and the Beast, Belle could definitely be admired for her strength and nobility. She stood up for herself and sacrificed her life for her father. She was against the everyday norm and even against social norms in general. She was sure to be seen as a hero in a female’s