Cultural Issues in Disney's Beauty and the Beast
...inderella-type women. It also appears to be geared toward the usual Disney audience of children, but for one interested in the meanings under the surface, however, there are much more controversial matters. This movie not only touches on the typical fairy-tale subjects of love and tragic heroes, it also scratches the deeper issues of feminism, male chauvinism, and true beauty from within, which were absolutely revolutionary for Disney. Belle is centuries ahead of her time in her thought processes and actions. She speaks eloquently and loves books. She radiates a sense of confidence and knowledge, combined with kindness that makes her quite remarkable for her time. Up until this point, Disney had focused on its heroines as capable beautiful women, who do not have the forceful imagination as displayed by Belle. These women are decidedly rebellious, but still maintain the giggly-girl mentality displayed by Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and the Little Mermaid. It is possible that this type of woman was portrayed because of the mental capability of the receiving audience, as the type of personality described above can also be used to describe a young girl. Belle, however, is filled with ideas of women’s rights and education, while maintaining a childish and innocent love of adventure/love stories, which brings out her feminine side. She is smart, witty, strong-willed, and is very ambitious, knowing that her life can be more than what it is. Not only is Belle capable and actually competent, which is a step above Snow White, she also does the absolutely remarkable action of saving the Beast’s life twice. She saves his life after a fight with the wolves when she tries to run away, and a second time in the end when he is about to fall to his death after being stabbed by Gaston. All of Disney’s leading ladies up to this point have been absolutely stunning women, who always land the handsome prince, and while this is true for this movie, it is also true that Belle had no inclination of the curse before she fell in love with the Beast, meaning that she would have been perfectly content to spend the rest of her life with someone other than a handsome prince. In another Disney movie, Gaston would have been the obvious choice, especially since he declares his intent to kill the Beast to avenge Belle, a truly romantic notion reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty. Not only does she fall in love with a Beast, but she also forgoes a chance with the assumed hero, Gaston, to have a relationship with the Beast. She is a truly remarkable woman for Disney. The concept of inner beauty is shown in reverse in the depiction of Gaston, who is handsome but cruel to those beneath him, such as his best friend and follower. While Gaston is portrayed as empty-headed and mindlessly testosterone-driven, there is a certain betraying cunning and cruelty about him that makes him a most unsavory character. He is the picture of male egotism, although his song to his own majesty in the bar leaves the audience wondering how masculine he really is, especially given his apparent lack of interest in the three town beauties that flock to his every whim. His final battle with the Beast eliminates any earlier hopes about his heroic comeback, when he proves his complete lack of scruples when he stabs the Beast in the back, which off balances himself, throwing our downed “hero” off the roof to his death. This last action from Gaston is the perfect ending for his cruel character, because the viewer truly comes to dislike him by this point, rather then the amused tolerance one usually feels at the beginning. Disney absolutely loved using tragic heroes in his movies. You can find them in Sleeping Beauty, The Sword and the Stone, Lady and the Tramp, Bambi, Cinderella, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Dumbo, and the Lion King. The Beast can most definitely fall under the tragic hero category because of his noble birth, his fall from his esteemed position as prince, his tragic flaw (his arrogance and cold heart), his gradual redemption, and his tragic fall. Although the Beast does die ...