Beauty and the Beast: Social Expectations and Womens' Roles A

20 Feb 2003 Beauty and the Beast: Social Expectations and Womens' Roles A
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/fairytales_myths_fables_&legends/98630

The adaption of Cupid and Psyche to Beauty and Beast may reflect the expectations of society imposed on women's roles in society, particularly for marriage. beauty goes from being the domestic servant of her father's house to the self-indulgent prsioner of the Beast's palace. Perhaps the supressed feelings of rebellion incite her to take up the social martyr's station in life; worn down by the envy of her sisters and the drudgery of doing the dishes and scrubbing the toilets, she seeks escape from the repressed atmosphere of her father's house to become the spoiled princess of a palace.

The fantasies are immature. Beauty presents herself as a martyr, willingly accepting the asccusations of blame from her sisters and the burden of guilt from her father. She will present herself a willing, "living sacrifice," to redeem her father's life and to become the chattel of the Beast, reflecting much of Christian teachings regarding marriage: first the obedient child and then the submissive wife, ever yielding to the demands of the social environment.

Her father rejects any personal responsibility for the contract made with the Beast. he presents himself as the victim of excessive oppression, but in reality he wa guilty of theft and avarice. He presumes upon the Beast's generous nature, planning to ursurp the palace as his own as a pleasant habitation for his daughters. After all, he reflects. divine providence must have provided it only for him. In reality, the Beast merely oncedes to the merchant's avarice. His daughter is w4elcome to inherit the wealth of the palace, but what the merchant really wanted was no strings attached. In his confrontation with the Beast, he sidesteps admission of any guilt for taking what does not rightly belojng to him, nor is he thankful for the hospitality and sustenance that the Beast generously provided. His life is dominated by self-interest and avarice as a result of his misfortune. having lost one fortune, he wishes only to gain another, apparently by illegal squatting

"He was standing lost in thought, when of a sudden it came into his mind that some kindly power had perhaps prepared this palace of wonder for him, that it with all its riches might indeed be his. Possessed by this notion he once again made a tour of the rooms and took stock of their treasures, planning in his mind how he would divide them amongst his children, assigning this apartment to one and that to another, and whispering to himself what joy he would carry home after all from his journey. Then he went down into the garden, where—though it was the depth of winter—the birds were singing and the air breathed the scent of a thousand flowers.

“Surely,” he told himself, “my daughters will be happy here and never desire any more to go back to the city. Quick! Let me saddle my horse at once and ride home with the news!”

Virtual Fairy Tales : Beauty and the Beast Introduction by Quiller-Couch
http://www.virtualclassics.com/thesleepingbeautyandotherfairytales_preface.htm

intro and Quiller-Couch translation of the story
http://www.virtualclassics.com/BEAUTYANDTHEBEAST.htm

But Beauty does no better when confronted by the psychological harassment from her sisters. Accustomed to being the compliant child, the simpering martyr, she concedes her freedom to appease their demands. No effort is made to find an alternative solution, like a Greek hero dressed up for human sacrifice, the Beauty must go to her fate, echoing Mary Renault's, The King Must Die. The similarity though is only superficial, as she has no intention to struggle with her fate; she prefers to be immature and self-indulgent, whiling the time of eternity in an enchanted palace where everything is done for her. She is the mythical helpless princess caught in the ivory tower.

In truth, she is as self-centered and ungrateful as her father. She presumes that everything is only for her pleasure, only condescending to allow the Beast to sup with her; but refuses any other personal commitment to him. She wants the dressings of a rich marriage, but no personal involvement. Instigated by the envy of her sisters, she dreams of regaining the security of her childhood home and the affection of her father rather than remain as an empty vase decorating a table in a palace. Never once is there any personal evaluation as to the emptiness of her existence or acknowledgement of her cold rebuffs to the Beast who provideds for her every whim and need. She perceives herself as wronged and not the wrongdoer; the victim of fate and not the victimizer. Her departing comments to her father reflect her shallowness:

“I think, father,” she said, “that we had better empty these trunks again, and fill them with money. For money can always be turned to account, whereas to sell these precious stones you would have to go to some jeweller, who very likely would cheat you, and perhaps be suspicious of them. But with these pieces of gold you can buy land, houses, furniture, jewels—what you will—and no one will ask any questions.” (see above link, Quiller-Couch translation)

Beauty is no beauty, but as grasping and avaricious of her sisters. Living in a fantasy world like a child, believing that the she is the center of the universe and life owes it to her. Truly, she has denied herself, taken up her cross and now should inherit otherworldly bliss for her unswerving obedience to the father. She lives in self-delusion. Do such people exist? Surely. Young women do seek escape from repressive or abusive homelife in premature marriages, but the illusion of happiness does not last so long confronted with the drudgery of daily life, debts and diapers. They dream of the Hollywood idealized family of My Three Sons or Leave It To Beaver in a world where women take evermore active roles in business and society.

For who could ever love a beast: notes on Beauty and Beast
http://www.ivyweb.net/btvs/fictionary/essays/011210A_Rob.htm
a comparative essay of Beaumont's version with that of Disney's and Joss Whedon's, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Marcelle Clements, NYTimes Jan 5 2002
Differing Dreams of Girl and Beast
http://work.colum.edu/~ashepp/mythSymbolImage/beautyAndBeast.html
comparative review of theatrical and film versions of Beauty and Beast including Jean Cocteau's, Disney, Philip Glass and George C. Scott.