The fairy tale genre presents literature pointing to the prominent stages of life: Trials of growing up, departure from home, and the attainment and proof of maturity (Sellers 10). Jack Zipes, a fairy tale historian, claims that “progress depends on literacy,” and while obscure fairy tale revisionists have made significant strides in this pursuit, David Haase asserts “only the best-known stories, those everyone has read or heard, indeed those Disney has popularized, have affected masses of children in our culture” (Relentless 6, Haase 1). As the fairy tale genre has transformed through not only print, but also technological innovations such as film, the internet, and social media, so have its female characters. While female characters in fairy
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She struggles with the dualistic positioning of men and women and socially accepted norms (Parsons, 148). The story’s initial leap at presenting females differently attempts to introduce the fair skinned, demure, and physically beautiful Belle to be a strong female with a longing for education, subtly portrayed by her love of books, and a tendency to think for herself. The story also opens with great promise in presenting the idea that the male character, the spoiled, selfish, and unkind prince, is actually the one with the problem (Dickens 81). One might perceive this introduction as influenced by second wave feminism, as Belle is very conscious of her own oppressions. However, it is this same musical introduction, with its visuals and innuendos, which trivializes the female’s assertive wishes, tilting this film with ambiguity and sexist entendres. Breaking from the traditional format of fairy tales, rather than accepting inappropriate behaviors in men, such as lacking moral values and being judgmental of one’s exterior appearance, once these characteristics are displayed by the prince he receives harsh punishment. The female enchantress, who has been unjustly judged by the prince, uses her magic to change the prince into a hideous, grotesque, alarming Beast and places his entire castle and staff under an enchanted spell to be broken …show more content…
This theme falls back to that in traditional fairy tales where daughters are expected to be servant and caretaker for their parents, and Belle does not disappoint, as she offers to spend the rest of her life as the Beast’s captive in exchange for her father’s freedom (Booker 24). Belle initially participates in the judgmental activity of stereotyping an individual’s character by his or her own outward appearance, seeing only the gruesomeness of the Beast’s features (figure 2) along with his terrifying and unrefined actions. Audiences may be concerned by the strong hints of domestic abuse by the Beast, although Belle stands up to his temper and threats numerous times, displaying her inner strength (Dickens 84). This willingness to stand up to threats and potentially to put herself in danger, rather than seek help, may send a message to women that a sweet-natured, beautiful female has the ability to tame an abusive man. Disney continues their effort, albeit subtly, to show a female’s worth beyond beauty with the undertones of Belle’s desire for education displayed by the sharing her love of books with the Beast. However, Disney fails to stand their ground on this deeper personal characteristic and we eventually see that is was actually Belle’s “knowledge of civilized etiquette that changed [the
She struggles with the dualistic positioning of men and women and socially accepted norms (Parsons, 148). The story’s initial leap at presenting females differently attempts to introduce the fair skinned, demure, and physically beautiful Belle to be a strong female with a longing for education, subtly portrayed by her love of books, and a tendency to think for herself. The story also opens with great promise in presenting the idea that the male character, the spoiled, selfish, and unkind prince, is actually the one with the problem (Dickens 81). One might perceive this introduction as influenced by second wave feminism, as Belle is very conscious of her own oppressions. However, it is this same musical introduction, with its visuals and innuendos, which trivializes the female’s assertive wishes, tilting this film with ambiguity and sexist entendres. Breaking from the traditional format of fairy tales, rather than accepting inappropriate behaviors in men, such as lacking moral values and being judgmental of one’s exterior appearance, once these characteristics are displayed by the prince he receives harsh punishment. The female enchantress, who has been unjustly judged by the prince, uses her magic to change the prince into a hideous, grotesque, alarming Beast and places his entire castle and staff under an enchanted spell to be broken …show more content…
This theme falls back to that in traditional fairy tales where daughters are expected to be servant and caretaker for their parents, and Belle does not disappoint, as she offers to spend the rest of her life as the Beast’s captive in exchange for her father’s freedom (Booker 24). Belle initially participates in the judgmental activity of stereotyping an individual’s character by his or her own outward appearance, seeing only the gruesomeness of the Beast’s features (figure 2) along with his terrifying and unrefined actions. Audiences may be concerned by the strong hints of domestic abuse by the Beast, although Belle stands up to his temper and threats numerous times, displaying her inner strength (Dickens 84). This willingness to stand up to threats and potentially to put herself in danger, rather than seek help, may send a message to women that a sweet-natured, beautiful female has the ability to tame an abusive man. Disney continues their effort, albeit subtly, to show a female’s worth beyond beauty with the undertones of Belle’s desire for education displayed by the sharing her love of books with the Beast. However, Disney fails to stand their ground on this deeper personal characteristic and we eventually see that is was actually Belle’s “knowledge of civilized etiquette that changed [the