A Feminist Anaylsis of Beauty and the Beast with Additional Thoughts on Gender
Note: In reading over this before I released it on the blog, I realized that I wanted to write an additional post to explain my conception of romantic love and sexuality. I’d also like to touch on the general nature of feminist philosophy since self-described feminists have a tendency to disagree on its meaning in the same manner that self-identified anarchists debate the nature of anarchy. I’d just like to make sure that individuals understand what conception of feminism I subscribe to since there are positions taken by self-proclaimed feminists that I disagree with. More on that to come in the future and here’s my piece:
Disney’s classic Beauty and the Beast has some positive ideas to impart about gender. Examples of a feminist — whether intentional or not — consciousness is on display with the character of Belle.
Our first taste of this is given to us in the beginning of the movie with Belle’s introduction as an incredibly beautiful — leaving aside debates about what constitutes beauty in the first place — young woman whose “peculiarity” lies in her accompanying appreciation for books. Her character is also an independent being resistant to the advances of the domineering male suitor Gaston. He simply cannot come to terms with the idea that Belle has aspirations she considers more important than a marriage to him.
What can be gleaned from all this is the utter ridiculousness of traditional assumptions about gender. Belle’s combination of intelligence with beauty is a rebuke to the common cultural idea that splits the two. Think of all the images in our culture of the beautiful blonde who is simultaneously represented as a complete dunce.
Who is frequently held up as the ideal woman to seek out? The shallow but stereotypically drop dead gorgeous girl rather than the “nerdy” or “strange” but far more interesting stereotypically ugly lady.
Gaston is interested in the dorky or weird protagonist but only for her physical beauty. His alleged romantic attraction doesn’t seem to have any room for a care in the world about her own passions or the entirety of her character.
The contrast between the persona of Gaston and the beast is very revealing. In the former, we see the archetypal buff attractive guy who doesn’t appear to have much going on in the head, while the physically unappealing beast gradually becomes a rather gentle soul over time. His eventual sensitivity to Belle’s needs and desires is not accompanied by an inability to physically defend himself or others when needed. Something that runs counter to the popular identification of empathy or sensitivity with an unwillingness to physically defend yourself.
This combination of two usually opposed traits is shown in two scenes where the beast is forced on the defensive. When Belle makes an escape attempt after agreeing to perpetually stay in the castle in exchange for her father’s release, she is attacked by a pack of wolves. The beast comes to the rescue after having regretted his rough treatment of Belle. This situation is repeated near the end of the film when a struggle ensues between Gaston and the Beast because of the formers attempt to do away with him.
In the end, Beauty and the Beast offers us a vision of an androgynous individual that transcends the limitations of narrow gender roles. This is all for the better since the ability of people to comfortably create their own souls is an essential ingredient of a world worth living in. American culture has a very very long way to go in this department; and I am not always optimistic about the potential for change. I still end up choosing to believe it’s possible most of the time but such a spirit isn’t always easy to maintain. Perhaps, it will be easier someday and one can only hope this comes sooner rather than later.
Natasha | Feminism, Movies, Sexuality
