Beauty And The Beast Madame De Villeneuve Summary
Beauty and the Beast is a classic fairy tale that has been retold and adapted numerous times over the years. One of the earliest versions of the tale is the one written by Madame Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve in 1740. Her version of the story is known for its length and detail, and it is considered the most complete version of the tale.
The Plot
The story begins with a wealthy merchant who lives in a grand house with his six children. His youngest daughter, Beauty, is the most beautiful and kind-hearted of all his children. When the merchant loses his fortune, he and his family are forced to move to a small cottage in the countryside.
One day, the merchant comes across a beautiful palace in the woods. He enters the palace and takes a rose for Beauty, but he is caught by the Beast, who demands that one of the merchant's daughters must come to live in the palace in exchange for his life.
Beauty bravely volunteers to go to the palace and live with the Beast. Over time, she gets to know the Beast and realizes that he is not as frightening as he first seemed. The Beast falls in love with Beauty and asks her to marry him every night, but Beauty always refuses.
Eventually, Beauty is allowed to visit her family for a short time. When she returns to the palace, she finds that the Beast has fallen ill and is close to death. She realizes that she loves him and agrees to marry him. When she says yes, the Beast transforms into a handsome prince, and they live happily ever after.
The Characters
Beauty is the protagonist of the story. She is kind, gentle, and selfless, and she is loved by everyone who knows her. She is also intelligent and brave, and she is not afraid to stand up to the Beast when he frightens her.
The Beast is the antagonist of the story. He is initially frightening and cruel, but as the story progresses, we see that he is not as bad as he seems. He is kind-hearted and loving, and he is willing to do anything to make Beauty happy.
The other characters in the story include Beauty's father, her sisters, and her brothers. They are all supportive of Beauty and love her very much, but they are also somewhat selfish and materialistic.
The Themes
Beauty and the Beast is a story that explores many themes, including love, sacrifice, and the nature of true beauty. The story shows us that true love is not based on appearances but on what is inside a person's heart.
The story also shows us that sacrifice is an important part of love. Beauty is willing to give up her own happiness to save her father, and the Beast is willing to let Beauty go if it will make her happy.
Finally, the story shows us that true beauty comes from within. Beauty is not just physically beautiful; she is also kind, gentle, and loving. The Beast may be physically frightening, but he has a kind heart and a loving soul.
The Legacy
Madame de Villeneuve's version of Beauty and the Beast is considered a classic of French literature. It is known for its length and detail, and it is considered the most complete version of the tale.
The story has been adapted numerous times over the years, including as an animated film by Disney in 1991. The Disney version of the story is one of the most well-known and beloved adaptations of the tale.
Beauty and the Beast continues to be a popular story today, and it is often used as a symbol of true love and the power of inner beauty.