The classic Disney movie, Beauty and The Beast, has certain aspects to the drama that classifies the 1990’s film as being one of Shakespearean Romance. Like the definition says, it has both tragic and comedy conventions, balancing the different genre’s to help create that romantic movie. From the start of the movie, it introduces the viewer to a very improbable plot; a young prince, at first, dismissing an old lady, getting fooled by what it appeared to be a beautiful enchantress in disguise. The tragic convention starts off there when explaining the misfortunes of the tragic hero as he is turned into a hideous beast. The prince was obviously one of a noble and now has to go experience a supernatural event. With the rose and the spell that the prince must fall in love before 21st birthday, this shows the convention of being a comedy, since he character is given chance to redeem himself for being a cold-hearted soul.
Belle's introduction is what begins to unwrap the conventions. There is more happy feeling to the story as Belle is introduced, dismissing the tragic happenings of the prince. Belle is described as being one that is peculiar to the small village. Gaston, the villain, is introduced not so long afterwards. The induction of having a villain falls under the comedy convention and romance as well. Gaston can be then seen as a villain, falling under the romance convention (in general) because he is nothing but a misfortune to Belle and her father.
Belle's father opens the gates to the tragic hero in the movie. The Beast is then introduced when he finds her father getting comfortable in his castle, and the tragic convention appears again. The beast is shown with his evil side, locking up the father as he wishes not to have any guests. When Belle arrives to the castle, she, like her Papa, was amused by the talking objects, going back to the comedic convention, but bouncing back to the tragic convention as the beast finds her and his evil side comes out again. The story begins to start developing as the beast imprisons Belle. Mostly just to break the spell, the beast introduced that desire that the tragic hero has as he plans to keep the girl to achieve his goal and become human once again. He has to become good to the girl in order for her to gain trust in him and so he can reach his goal. This is the showing of his good side, which is something that the tragic convention portrays.
As the plot is beginning to develop more rapidly, there are conventions of romance. There is a new love interest pair, Belle and the Beast, and these would-be lovers must over come many obstacles. The obstacles are with the beast and they are more of a tragic convention because he is seen as he is trying but is having so many flaws.
The dinner they have can be the climax of the story because it is when he has to say his love to her, but instead of telling her what he feels so the spell can be broken, he let her go because he loved her. It is evident that the beast suffers a great deal because he didn’t get what he wanted. The romance convention is again brought up as the villain is seen to be planning a riot against the beast. Gaston heads on over to the castle with the villagers and a mini revolt between the villagers and the talking objects of the castle happen. Gaston and the beast begin to fight and a fight between the villain and the tragic hero starts to occur. Going back to the tragic convention, as the fight between them almost comes to an end when the beast takes control and places Gaston in a life or death situation, the beast is pleaded by Gaston not to be killed and the good of the beast comes to appear once more as he tells him to leave. Belle is seen then at the top of the scene and the beast is moved once again because his goal to break the spell can be reached. It all changes when the villain stabs a knife to the side of the beast, injuring the tragic hero, even though Gaston loses balance and falls down the castle.
The tragic hero is then seeing as he is dying and for a moment, he dies in the presence of Belle, making another tragic convention. But then the comedic convention appears all of a sudden as Belle says what needed to be said to the beast to break the spell, “I love you.” The rose is shown as finally dying, but since Belle confessed her love to him before the last petal fell down, the beast is turned into human once more, as well as the talking objects. The resolution is solved and they are seen to move on to enjoy a happy life with everyone around.
The movie is a classic tale of having a happily ever after, but the mix of tragedy and comedy is what makes the movie more romantic. Like all romances, there will always need to be the good and the bad and that’s what this movie is all about.
