The story of Beauty and the Beast is one that has been loved for over 20 years. It's the tale as old as time that explores the true beauty within, and whether or not a person can be loved if they are a "beast".
But I'm not here to talk about that.
I do want to talk about Beauty and the Beast, given the fact that the Emma Watson remake is due to be released in March, however my subject for this particular piece is about the villain of our beloved Disney fairy tale. And by villain, I don't mean the handsome fellow who uses antlers in all of his decorating and eats five dozen eggs on the daily. I'm talking about his scrappy, little sidekick. The one who bumbles along after Gaston and assists him in his master plans.
You know, this guy. LeFou.
LeFou is the classic "bumbling evil sidekick" that Disney movies are so famous for. Among his kind are Kronk from The Emperor's New Groove, Horace and Jasper from 101 Dalmatians, and of course Jafar's loyal bird Iago in Aladdin (though perhaps Iago was a little bit sassier than other members of his club).
I would like you to consider, however, the idea that maybe Gaston isn't the villain of this movie after all. Really, it is LeFou that pushes Gaston towards his master plan at the climax of the movie. LeFou is the brains of the operation, while Gaston is just the big, dumb jock who wants loves himself and wants to marry the pretty, weird girl that lives in the village... aka: Belle.
Think of the song about Gaston... the uplifting bar tune that boasts about how great and wonderful Gaston is and that no one else is like him. It is LeFou that starts off this song, seemingly having his best interest at heart, raising his friend's spirits when he is at a low point. Now I want you to consider the reprise, when Gaston and LeFou are plotting to get rid of Belle's father. LeFou just happens to mention "Crazy Old Maurice", and that seems to spark the idea in Gaston's head to get rid of Belle's father.
In fact, if we're going off the angle that LeFou is the true villain of this story, we could say that it was done on purpose, a slip of the tongue that was intentional. According to the Disney wiki, LeFou is far from stupid. It is Gaston that is the dumb one, really. In the reprise, when Gaston tells LeFou that he's been thinking, LeFou says that it is a dangerous past time. More than likely he is saying that it is dangerous for Gaston to think at all, and that he should leave the thinking to him.
Citing further evidence from the wiki, LeFou is the one that goads Belle's father into talking about the Beast, in order for the others to laugh and him and call him crazy so that the psychiatrist from the Asylum can take him away and nothing can stand in the way of Gaston marrying Belle. LeFou also tries to warn Gaston against his initial proposal to Belle, because she is sure to turn him down. He is also the leader of the "Kill the Beast" mob while Gaston himself goes after the Beast in secret.
LeFou is no doubt a lot smarter than his antagonistic master. He is sneaky, and conniving, but because he is the sidekick, he is treated as nothing. Granted, Gaston isn't perfect either, because he does try to chase Belle despite her constant rejections, and he does attack the Beast because Belle loves him rather than Gaston, but it is his short, bumbling sidekick that is the true mastermind of the villainy of this movie.
