Who doesn’t like a good movie? For many, it is the most joyous form of escapism. Viewers could break from their social and humanly limitations, and immerse themselves into the life and role of the star character; the hero or the heroine. One would find love, romance, innate super-powers, and finally, social acceptance (sometimes even reverence), all within the gratifying time frame of two hours. Like sex, their transferred-to-on-screen alter ego would build up to a climax, to at last explode into a blissful finale of physical and mental transformation. But, according to Susan Jeffords, author of “The Curse of Masculinity”, and Laura Sells, Author of “Where Do the Mermaids Stand?”, such is actually not the case. Are we really escaping reality
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Ariel’s, the heroine’s, fascination with this white prince whom she doesn’t even know or has ever spoken to, is not unlike that of an obsessed schoolgirl as she caresses artifacts from his unreachable world and sings of her desires to be a part of him. Her idolization of this untouchable, gorgeous and rich ‘princely’ star, shoots him up to celebrity status in Ariel’s mind as well as the audience’s (Sells, 2008). Hence, success in the form of money is great, but richness and fame is even better. Men are compelled to also aspire to power in the form of fame or recognition, say ‘princely fame’, in their occupation and/or social standing. It certainly helps win the gal. Hence the fairytale happy ending is accomplished when the unassuming lasses in both movies win the prince charming that is complete with all the bells and whistles. Sure, Gaston, a townsman and potential suitor to Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Prince Eric and the Beast, all have the ability to physically and financially take care of their women and their household, but it became very evident early on in these films that the true coveted rewards were the …show more content…
It became the duty of Prince Eric, from the coveted upper world of land, the dominant culture, to save both worlds from the lower world’s evil Ursula, by slaying her. As he possesses the superior means to do so, unlike the lowly rest, thus is the expectation of those of power and privilege. The Beast, likewise, is a white prince responsible for the welfare of the marginal class, represented by his servants. The happiness and success of the marginal is dependant on the white prince. This sentiment is echoed earlier in the movie when the Beast is punished with a curse for not providing for a poor marginal class female. With great power comes great responsibility. Like the Greek god Atlas, not just men, but white men, carry the heavy weight of the world on their shoulders. In a happy ending, the Beast is once more restored to his original self, a handsome white male prince. Such gratification for the audience to see the prince restored to a dutiful position of power and privilege. As Jeffords aptly puts it, “the quality and continuity of everyone’s life finally depends upon these white men” (Jeffords, 2008,
Ariel’s, the heroine’s, fascination with this white prince whom she doesn’t even know or has ever spoken to, is not unlike that of an obsessed schoolgirl as she caresses artifacts from his unreachable world and sings of her desires to be a part of him. Her idolization of this untouchable, gorgeous and rich ‘princely’ star, shoots him up to celebrity status in Ariel’s mind as well as the audience’s (Sells, 2008). Hence, success in the form of money is great, but richness and fame is even better. Men are compelled to also aspire to power in the form of fame or recognition, say ‘princely fame’, in their occupation and/or social standing. It certainly helps win the gal. Hence the fairytale happy ending is accomplished when the unassuming lasses in both movies win the prince charming that is complete with all the bells and whistles. Sure, Gaston, a townsman and potential suitor to Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Prince Eric and the Beast, all have the ability to physically and financially take care of their women and their household, but it became very evident early on in these films that the true coveted rewards were the …show more content…
It became the duty of Prince Eric, from the coveted upper world of land, the dominant culture, to save both worlds from the lower world’s evil Ursula, by slaying her. As he possesses the superior means to do so, unlike the lowly rest, thus is the expectation of those of power and privilege. The Beast, likewise, is a white prince responsible for the welfare of the marginal class, represented by his servants. The happiness and success of the marginal is dependant on the white prince. This sentiment is echoed earlier in the movie when the Beast is punished with a curse for not providing for a poor marginal class female. With great power comes great responsibility. Like the Greek god Atlas, not just men, but white men, carry the heavy weight of the world on their shoulders. In a happy ending, the Beast is once more restored to his original self, a handsome white male prince. Such gratification for the audience to see the prince restored to a dutiful position of power and privilege. As Jeffords aptly puts it, “the quality and continuity of everyone’s life finally depends upon these white men” (Jeffords, 2008,