My mother spoiled me with Disney fairy tales; Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and all the other great Disney films. Cinderella was her favorite. We would sing “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” and “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” together and reenact our favorite lines of Cinderelly Cinderlly, Gus Gus and Jaq. I loved how she was never too grown up to play with me; I was her little princess. My beautiful mother prepared me for the fairy tale in more ways than one—as her love story was a fairy tale from start to the very end.
For some reason, though, she left out Beauty and The Beast. It wasn’t until I became older that I discovered Belle in her yellow dress and the amazing love story veiled in a Disney film
The film reigns as my favorite Disney love story for the following reasons:
1) Belle and Her Brain are in No Quest for Love
“Ohhh, isn’t this amazing it’s my favorite part because, you’ll see here’s where she meets Prince Charming, but she won’t discover that it’s him ‘til chapter three.” -Belle
Belle reads the books but does not play by its rules. She is in no rush to find prince charming but manages to snag his heart. Everything sort of happens accidentally. The love story blossoms naturally. Her sincerity makes her a pliable “true love.” When two people force each other into making “it happen.” It never happens. Without looking, searching, tugging or pushing, their love is born.
Nonetheless, Belle brings out the best in The Beast. She sees something in him that he does not see in himself. A true woman impacts a man so greatly that he is inspired to change the world because of her and he does. The Beast shows Belle a new world and she “learns she is wrong.” He brings out the beauty in Belle. Destiny conceives love and love mends destiny.
The no he did not look…
2) The Friction, the Tension….Oooh La La
“You…will join me for dinner. That’s not a request! –Beast
Needless to say, Belle and The Beast don’t meet on good terms. There is tension between these two from day one. I hate arguments; however, a little tension every now and then helps two people grow. Think more along the lines of iron sharpening iron. Have two strong personality types merging into one and there will be tension; when a win is won into two becoming one. The stronger the individuals, the greater the intensity, but when the two come together…”Oh, baby!”
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3) Love Built on the Purity of The Heart & Friendship
“Oh, it’s no use. She’s so beautiful, and I’m… Well, look at me! She’ll never see me as anything… but a monster. …It’s hopeless.” –Beast
Love is love. Love can’t be forced. Love is not appearance. Love is not socioeconomic status. Love is not defined by a career, nor is it secured by a job. Love is not lust. We do not ask for it. It simply happens over time. The film brings out the essence of love not built on material things. Belle falls in love with the Beast. She does not search for it, neither does she prohibit it. It simply happens.
It’s that moment when you can relax; you can finally let your guard down. There is no makeup, flaws are accepted, and beauty is birth. His guard is down and your walls have fallen down. You see him for who he is in all his error, and you love him. It’s real.
4) Sacrificial Love: He Lets Her Go
Beast: I let her go.
Cogsworth: Yes, yes, splen – You… what? How could you do that?
Beast: I had to.
Cogsworth: Yes, but, but, but… but… why?
Beast: Because… I love her.
The climax of the story is when the Beast is hit with a decision. With only a few petals of his own life left, he is moments away from grabbing Belle’s heart and the spell is almost broken. Yet, he lets her go, because he loves her.
Love is irrational. Love is putting another person’s needs above your own. The moment when you realize you’re unhappy because he’s unhappy or you’ll do whatever to make her smile because she makes you smile.
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5) It Was Him. Nothing Could Keep Them Apart.
Beast: You – You came back
Belle: Of course I came back.
….
Beast: Maybe… Maybe – it’s better… it’s better this way. (Dies)
Belle: No, No! Please. Please… Please don’t leave me.
Belle: I love you.
[The last rose petal falls.]
With a happily ever fairytale ending, the spell is broken and Belle gets her prince. There is no greater victory in love than the full assurance that the person you have in front of you is for you and for you. It’s the point when you realize that all games are over, and the battle has been won. It’s the assurance that nothing or no one can tear the love apart. The weathered storms and attacks have cemented the love in eternity. Love wins.
There is no such thing as a storybook romance or a happily ever ending. But, what is love without the enchantment of a fairy tale? Without the passion and tension of romance brewing? Without the elements of “meant to be together” or “love conquers all?” It’s not love without the magic of the fairy tale. And, though reality smothers these elements, we must fight with the notion that love never fails. Love is a “tale as old as time.” Love is beauty. Love is a beast!