Beauty and the Beast 1991 v 2017 - Summer Swift

Beauty and the Beast Character Analysis

1991 Beauty and the Beast:

Belle: The character of Belle was adapted from the original writings to conform to the feminist movements of the 1900s. Belle’s relationship with her father appeals to the feminist movement as well. She is portrayed as an independent young woman who avoids the popular suitors and strays away from the village norms. Her father, which traditionally the male is seen as the head of the household, is weak and depends on Belle. Belle does most of the chores around their home, which opposes the feminist movement, but takes care of her father and is in a position of slight dominance over him. This appeals to the feminist movement.

Belle is seen as ‘odd’ because she can read and she yearns for adventure which adds to her independent character. In this version her father, Maurice, is an artist and inventor. No information is given regarding her mother, which appeals to the increasing numbers of single parent households which started to rise in the 1960s.

In the animated film, Belle shows signs of Stockholm syndrome. Stockholm syndrome is when a captured person begins to associate or show signs of appreciation towards their captor. This is obviously evident in the film since Belle has become imprisoned be the Beast, then learns to love him for who he is on the inside. This is a good message to young children: Love what is on the inside of a person, not the outside. But this is also a bad way to show the message as women who are abused by their partner are likely to stay with their partner because of Stockholm syndrome and domestic violence has been on the rise since the mid-1900s.

2017 Live Action Beauty and the Beast:

Belle: Belle in the new 2017 live action film still portrays the independent woman she is in the 1991 version. She still takes care of her father which pleases the Feminist movement, but also takes care of the chores around their home which opposes the movement. In the live action film Belle is a reader and an inventor. This makes more sense since her father is an inventor in the 1991 animated film and the 2017 film. Belle being an inventor pleases the Feminist movements of the 1900s because engineering is part of the STEM careers that women have more recently started to show interest in.

Belle is still playing victim to the Beast and Stockholm syndrome. In both films, Belle denies Gaston’s love because he is rude, controlling, and arrogant, and instead she falls in love with the Beast who is also rude, controlling, and arrogant. Belle in the live action film does not completely apply to be under the Stockholm syndrome, but in the end she still falls in love with the Beast who held her hostage. She does not completely comply because she had opportunities to escape but chose not to do so. The first occurred when she was escorted to her room by Lumiere. She tied the sheets together to make a long rope to climb out of her room, but stayed when Mrs. Potts entered. Her second opportunity was when she escaped on her horse but was attacked by wolves outside the castle gates. The Beast fought off the wolves and Belle chose to help him back into the castle and assist with his recovery. These opportunities were not given in the 1991 film. This adds to the feminist movement and the fact that women should leave abusive relationships. The fact that Belle stayed with the Beast opposes this message though, saying that no matter how bad the man is, you should nurture him back to health. With this message, Belle does fall under the Stockholm syndrome.