Beauty And The Beast By Marie Leprince De Beaumont
The story of Beauty and the Beast has been told and retold countless times in many different forms, but the original version by French author Marie Leprince De Beaumont remains one of the most beloved and enduring tales of all time. Published in 1756, it tells the story of a young woman named Beauty who falls in love with a beastly creature, and through her love and kindness, transforms him into a handsome prince.
The Story of Beauty And The Beast
The story begins with a wealthy merchant who has six children, three boys and three girls. Beauty, the youngest daughter, is the most beautiful and kind-hearted of them all. When the merchant loses his fortune, he and his family are forced to move to the countryside and live a simple life. One day, the merchant hears that one of his ships has returned with a cargo of valuable goods, and he sets out to retrieve it. On his way back, he gets lost in a forest and stumbles upon a magnificent castle. He enters the castle and is greeted by a mysterious host who invites him to stay for the night. The merchant accepts the invitation and spends the night in comfort, but before he leaves, he picks a rose from the castle's garden to bring back to Beauty.
As he is leaving, the host appears and reveals himself to be a beastly creature. The merchant begs for his life, but the beast tells him that he must either send one of his daughters to live with him in the castle or else be killed. The merchant reluctantly agrees and returns home to tell his family of his terrible bargain. Beauty, being the kindest and most selfless of the children, volunteers to go in her father's place.
When Beauty arrives at the castle, she is greeted by the beast and slowly begins to see past his frightening appearance and into his kind heart. She spends her days reading, exploring the castle, and talking to the beast, and eventually comes to love him for who he is rather than what he looks like. One day, the beast allows her to visit her family, but warns her not to stay longer than a week or else he will die of sadness.
Unfortunately, Beauty's sisters are jealous of her new life and convince her to stay longer than a week. When she returns to the castle, she finds that the beast has fallen ill and may die. She realizes that she loves him more than anything and declares her love for him. Suddenly, the beast transforms into a handsome prince, and Beauty learns that his curse was broken by her love.
The Themes of Beauty And The Beast
While the story of Beauty and the Beast is often seen as a simple fairy tale, it contains many complex themes and messages that are still relevant today. One of the most important themes is the idea of looking beyond appearances to see the true nature of a person. Beauty is able to see past the beast's frightening exterior and into his kind heart, and in doing so, she is able to break his curse and transform him into a prince. This message is particularly relevant in today's society where appearances are often given more importance than character.
Another important theme in the story is the idea of redemption through love. The beast is cursed because of his cruel and selfish behavior, but through Beauty's love and kindness, he is able to redeem himself and become a better person. This message is particularly relevant in today's society where redemption and forgiveness are often overlooked in favor of punishment and retribution.
The Legacy of Beauty And The Beast
Beauty and the Beast has become one of the most beloved and enduring fairy tales of all time, and it has been adapted into countless films, television shows, and books. Perhaps the most famous adaptation is Disney's 1991 animated film, which remains a classic to this day. The story has also been adapted into live-action films, including the 2017 film starring Emma Watson as Belle.
Despite its popularity, the story of Beauty and the Beast remains as relevant and powerful today as it was when it was first written. Its messages of love, redemption, and the importance of looking beyond appearances will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.