An In-Depth Analysis of Fairy Tales

More Than "Kiddy" Stuff:

An In Depth Look At Fairy Tales.

Esteemed German poet Johann Schiller insists, "Deeper meaning resides in the fairy tales told me in my childhood than in any truth that is taught in life" ("Fairy" 1). Fairy tales are unique because they focus all which is moral and corrupt into a short, compact story. The story directly arrives to the plot leaving nothing to ponder. From there, fairy tales branch out and explore each superior characteristic a person should obtain and their opposites. The tales are usually meant for young children, but they are exceedingly beneficial to all ages; however, children benefit more from the abstract reason of thought these provide. Recent studies prove, "[. . .] children deprived of fantasy may develop nightmares and suffer emotional delays" (Melvin 1). Since the tales are universal, they can be adapted to teach or explain any given lesson in life. Disney's Beauty and the Beast (1991) portrays a complete transformation by Beast, which can be related to life in countless ways.

At first, Beast is disliked and feared by the characters around him because of his appearance. When desperate Maurice wanders into Beast's castle, he is treated Beast storms down to the room where Maurice waits unexpectedly the moment he learns a stranger has entered his castle. Without welcome to the stranger, Beast begins interrogating Maurice in a derogative manner, "Who are you? What are you doing here?" With Maurice in a stupor, Beast's fangs flash, and his large shadow floods the wall. Beast appears jagged and uneven, his mane and fur unkempt. Maurice is terrified because inches away stands a beast twice the size of a man, with talons for nails and fangs for teeth. Beast's warm, stale breath saturates Maurice, and they stand unchanged for an instant. Before Belle takes her father's place as prisoner to Beast, she asks to see Beast in the light. He steps forward lighting his dog-like features and Belle is aghast. She covers her mouth with her hand because she cannot believe she is taking her father's place for this monster. Later when Belle has grown more use to Beast, he messily eats his food without proper etiquette and food sloshes all over his face.

Beast perpetrates many wrongful actions; thus, he is not popular among newcomers. This fact is proven well when Maurice is harshly taken up into the keep of the castle. Beast forcefully seizes Maurice by his collar and hauls him up a spiral staircase to the unaccommodating prisoner quarters, without answering any questions. After Belle switches places with her father, Beast does not ask politely, but commands her to eat dinner with him. With a roaring voice he shouts, "You...will join me for dinner. That's not a request!" Another time he lets his temper get the best of him is when Belle stumbles upon the West Wing. She was told never to go there, but her curiosity got the best of her. As she wandered around in questioning, she made too much of a noise and Beast took heed of her. He angrily bellowed, "I warned you never to come here! [. . .] Get out! Get out!"

Once self-sacrificing Belle releases her father Maurice by taking his place as prisoner, Beast appears different. The utter transformation therein occurs. Before his first meeting with Belle after he saves her from the wolves, he always looked disheveled. Beast appears to be a changed person since he has learned to love, and he has drawn closer to Belle. His mane looks much more refined at all times, and his fur is no longer jagged, but more orderly. When he and Belle go out in to the snow together, he looks very sophisticated with his blue overcoat and black dress pants. Beast is taking further actions to make himself seem a great deal tidier.

The most noticeable change in Beast's actions towards Belle occurs when she doctors him after the incident with the wolves. Belle manages to get the last word in which dumbfounds him, and causes him to think on the events transpired.

...