Disneyfication of "Beauty and the Beast"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the Disney adaptation of Madame Leprince de Beaumont's "Beauty and the Beast" . The paper contends that an analysis of Belle's character reveals that Disney's treatment of the fairy tale entirely neuters the story, taking away its dramatic, harsh moral lessons, and diminishing its female role model to an idle idiot who should not have survived the first ten minutes. The paper continues to discusses how this is further exacerbated by the introduction of cute, irrelevant animated characters who only serve to trivialize the film further. The paper concludes that, while traditional fairy tales offered chicken soup for the soul, Disney offers canned soup for the soul.

From the Paper:

"Beaumont's Beauty has many other good qualities besides, and demonstrates them consistently throughout the story. For example, she is patient when her shrewish sisters berate her. She is considerate when her father offers her gifts, requesting almost nothing for fear it might be beyond his means. She does ask for a rose, not because she wants one, but because she does not want to show her sisters up. Thus, in somewhat Christian fashion, she turns the other cheek, meeting her sisters' insults with kindness and consideration. Disney's Belle gets no such opportunity to show Christian charity - this lucky young woman is an only child, unburdened with mean-spirited sisters! Again, the Disney character is denied the opportunity to model strength of character to viewers, and instead remains comparatively insipid. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Beaumont, Madame Leprince de. Beauty and the Beast.
• Trousdale, Gary and Kirk Wise. (Directors). Beauty and the Beast. Disney Studios.

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