Why I Love Beauty & the Beast | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Why I Love Beauty & the Beast

Beauty and the Beast has always held a special place in my heart because it provided me with a character I could truly relate to, a girl who was just like me.

1348
Why I Love Beauty & the Beast
Courtesy of AWN

I am one of those girls born with Disney in their veins. Despite the fact that I have never been to Disney World or Disney Land, I am a lover of all things Disney. As a child, I watched Disney movies on repeat (just as my uncle -- I made him watch The Little Mermaid until he could sing the songs in his sleep); as an adult, I still watch Disney movies on repeat (just ask my kids and my boyfriend), and over the years I've realized that these movies, despite the psychological flaws that have been concocted about each and every one of them, brought my solace as a child. They gave me hope and they gave me a way to escape. I found myself in those princesses and their adventures, but despite my incessant desire to repeatedly watch The Little Mermaid with my uncle, I've only ever felt a real true connection to one princess: Belle.

The 1991 animated film Beauty and the Beast follows the relationship between Adam -- the Beast -- a young prince, and Belle, a young girl from a small village. Adam was cursed and transformed to a beast as punishment for his arrogance and his disregard for others, and the only way to break the spell is for the Beast to learn to love and be loved in return. This film was released about one year prior to the year I was born, but it has always held a special place in my heart because it provided me with a character I could truly relate to, a girl who was just like me.

Over the years, I've read and listened to various theories in regards to the relationship between Belle and the Beast -- Stockholm Syndrome (feelings of trust or even affection felt by the victim toward the captor in specific instances of kidnapping or hostage-taking) and bestiality (sexual relations between a human and an animal) -- and I've read and listened to the rebuttals to those theories. Admittedly, I occasionally think of those theories when I watch the movie or read the story, but they never take away from the fact that this movie, this story, this character, spoke to me as a child in a way that no other character has; I continue to connect to her as a character, as a person, and I connect to her story.

"With a dreamy far-off look and her nose stuck in a book."

Belle is an oddity in her village. She "doesn't quite fit in" because she prefers to read and educate herself while the women of the village are content to pass the time with idle housework. During my elementary, middle, and high school career, I found myself preferring the company of literary characters to the company of my peers. Because I spent so much time with my nose buried in the pages of my favorite books, I was often discarded by my peers as "the strange girl" or "the girl without any real friends".

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere."

The women in Belle's village are content to marry a man life Gaston and spend the rest of their lives living in the same village, but Belle wants more. She wants to find adventures, go exploring the world. She's simply not content to fall in line with what's expected of her from the others in the village. I grew up in a small little borough of Perry County; I spent most of my life there, but I knew that when I was old enough I wanted to get out. Not that Perry County is bad, but I knew that in order to reach my full potential I needed to leave. Though I've never really wanted to explore the world, I've always had a desire to create my own adventures.

"Here's where she meets Prince Charming."

When I started my track at Penn State, I had no real interest in finding and falling in love. I wanted to focus on my studies, focus on getting my life back on track and start healing and living my life. But I found my Prince Charming, and we've begun to build a life together. It wasn't something I was looking for, but in the end, I couldn't be happier that the pieces of my life have fallen into place the way that they have.

Sometimes it feels strange and silly to say that I have connected to a Disney character for most of my life, but the truth is that I found myself through Belle. By watching her stand up to Gaston and watching her reject the norms of her village, I learned that it's okay to be myself. It's okay to be a lover of the written word and to want more in life.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

128703
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

29170
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

27045
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments