When you think of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast, what do you remember? In the typical plot of Beauty and the Beast, Beauty aids the Beast in his transformation from beast to man. The focus of the typical storyline is the battle between innate traits and characteristics accepted by society. However, in Angela Carter’s post-modern rendition, Tiger’s Bride, not only does she shift the focus to explore the relationship between love and self-acceptance, but she also changes the plot in efforts to make Beauty undergo a transformation. Through Carter’s tone, exploration of power dynamics, and use of imagery, the story follows the progression of the love and self-acceptance that influences Beauty’s metamorphosis.
Within the story, Carter’s …show more content…
The words “odd” and “self-imposed restraint” have negative connotations associated with them, causing the audience to develop apprehension towards the Beast. The development of these feelings reflects onto the Beast as he uses “restraint” in efforts to be viewed as more humane. Later in the story, Beauty acknowledges that the Beast “bought solitude, not luxury, with his money” (68). By using two words with contrasting undertones together, the audience then feels sympathetic towards the Beast as they want to know more about why he wants to be alone. However, the tone changes when the Beast exposes “his furred pads, his excoriating claws” (74) to Beauty. By describing his hands as “pads” and “claws”, Carter introduces an element of allure to the story, causing the audience to become intrigued by the Beast. The element of allure intensifies when Beauty and the Beast encounter each other for the final time as “the sweet thunder of [his] purr shook the old walls” (81). Using the words “sweet thunder” and “purr” exaggerates the passion that the Beast experiences as Beauty reveals herself to him. As the moment between Beauty and the Beast continues, she feels as if “[she is] within the field of …show more content…
When Beauty enters the castle, she receives a “white rose, unnatural, [and] out of season” (63) as a gift. The connotations typically associated with white roses are their beauty and representation of innocence. However, the words “unnatural” and “out of season” degrade the meaning behind them, causing them to seem artificial. Similarly, when she meets the Beast she thinks that he has “a beautiful face, but one with too much formal symmetry” (64). By describing the Beast’s face like the white rose, contrasting its beauty with its forced nature, Beauty notices how the Beast conforms to an ideal that he does not fit into. Consequently, she begins to understand that the Beast “had chosen to live in an uninhabited place” (69). Because of his differences, he chooses to live in a place where he rarely encounters society, however he still inflicts societal norms on himself as he wants to resemble a normal human. Beauty who also inflicts societal norms upon herself sympathizes with him. Thus, she develops more compassion for the Beast, enabling her to feel “the annihilating vehemence of his eyes” (77). The connotation that relates to “annihilating” and “vehemence” is overwhelming power. Placing these two words together, one supporting the other, signifies the unity between Beauty and the Beast as she
Within the story, Carter’s …show more content…
The words “odd” and “self-imposed restraint” have negative connotations associated with them, causing the audience to develop apprehension towards the Beast. The development of these feelings reflects onto the Beast as he uses “restraint” in efforts to be viewed as more humane. Later in the story, Beauty acknowledges that the Beast “bought solitude, not luxury, with his money” (68). By using two words with contrasting undertones together, the audience then feels sympathetic towards the Beast as they want to know more about why he wants to be alone. However, the tone changes when the Beast exposes “his furred pads, his excoriating claws” (74) to Beauty. By describing his hands as “pads” and “claws”, Carter introduces an element of allure to the story, causing the audience to become intrigued by the Beast. The element of allure intensifies when Beauty and the Beast encounter each other for the final time as “the sweet thunder of [his] purr shook the old walls” (81). Using the words “sweet thunder” and “purr” exaggerates the passion that the Beast experiences as Beauty reveals herself to him. As the moment between Beauty and the Beast continues, she feels as if “[she is] within the field of …show more content…
When Beauty enters the castle, she receives a “white rose, unnatural, [and] out of season” (63) as a gift. The connotations typically associated with white roses are their beauty and representation of innocence. However, the words “unnatural” and “out of season” degrade the meaning behind them, causing them to seem artificial. Similarly, when she meets the Beast she thinks that he has “a beautiful face, but one with too much formal symmetry” (64). By describing the Beast’s face like the white rose, contrasting its beauty with its forced nature, Beauty notices how the Beast conforms to an ideal that he does not fit into. Consequently, she begins to understand that the Beast “had chosen to live in an uninhabited place” (69). Because of his differences, he chooses to live in a place where he rarely encounters society, however he still inflicts societal norms on himself as he wants to resemble a normal human. Beauty who also inflicts societal norms upon herself sympathizes with him. Thus, she develops more compassion for the Beast, enabling her to feel “the annihilating vehemence of his eyes” (77). The connotation that relates to “annihilating” and “vehemence” is overwhelming power. Placing these two words together, one supporting the other, signifies the unity between Beauty and the Beast as she