Beaumont’s tale contains a prevalent dichotomy between the masculine and feminine. The tale is “endowed with ancient archetypes with a feminine power” (Ross 60), even the title of the tale is representing two polarising binaries. In both Beaumont and Disney’s telling, the Beast is very much a hyper-masculine figure especially in comparison to the Beauty character. Focusing on Beaumont, she seems to be suggesting that these concepts “belong to an economic and ideological order” (Korneeva 247). Throughout the tale we are given these two very distinctive polarities existing in nearly every character. When Beauty’s merchant father tells his children he must go to sacrifice himself, while the sisters blame Beauty, her brothers propose to “find the…show more content… Even after losing his fortune the merchant is still able to “provide a fairly comfortable life” (Stevens 6) his children. According to Stevens, this focus on the merchant’s “wealth and savour faire” (6) has led “some critics to classify the text as purely bourgeois” (6). This subject of criticism could possibly be attributed to the authorship of the tale, as Beaumont taught predominately upper-class students. However upon losing their abundance of wealth, Beauty’s sisters are determined to “stay in the city” (806) despite their previous proposals of marriage becoming non-existent. Thus when Beauty travels to the Beast’s castle in her father’s stead, it becomes possible to view her decision to stay was based on the comfortable and wealthy lifestyle Beast provided, as she lived at the palace in “great tranquility” (Beaumont 811). Disney’s telling also can be read in a similar light. Although Belle does not come from a rich family, she views herself as somewhat above the people of the “provincial” town she has come to live in them, referring to them as “little people”. Belle’s main motivation throughout the opening of the film is to seek “adventure”, emphasised by a shot we see of Belle standing amongst a vast green field with the sunset on the horizon, telling us of the huge world Belle wishes to immerse herself in. In a slightly…show more content… After considering Beaumont’s authorship it can be seen that her tale is a means of encouraging women to live an intelligent and virtuous life, with the moral implications of her story made explicit at its conclusion. Both tellings play upon a dichotomy of masculinity and femininity, which greatly influences the portrayal of the characters in both tellings. Finally, it is worth recognising how class and social ranking affects the plot, character motivations and interpretations, whether Belle or Beauty would have chosen to remain with Beast if he could not offer her the opulent lifestyle is an important factor when reading the tale. Although both tellings can be critiqued, they are both notable tellings of the Beauty and the Beast narrative which continues to be retold through various mediums throughout
