Disney
The most lovable and hate-able company of make-belief and dreams come true for peoples of all ages.
It’s so often praised and criticized for its fragile princesses, damsels in distress, and wishes of true love. Lately it has been more praise for its change from fragile D.I.D. to femme fatale, or something seemingly independent, but that is for another post.
Among a favorite to criticize, in my opinion, is Beauty and the Beast (my sister’s favorite).
now the analysis could go both ways if you really want to point out different points of view, but for the sake of argument and just this post, let's stick to just one, the illusion of love.
It is often pointed that Stockholm syndrome is the main reason for Belle to stay and fall in love with the Beast. Some more romantic opinions are that it is indeed true love which connected them. Be what it may both sides of the balanced can be argued, however being the devil’s advocate, let’s use a third one.
My opinion this time is that there was a different syndrome playing here.
To start let me say that she was not really the helpless captive and victim. She chose to stay. She was treated nice by everyone but the Beast, (in the Disney adaptation, in the folk story the Beast continually shows love and affection). Later when she went to the west wing she was basically kicked out of the castle. No one stopped her, not that they could anyway, they just begged her not to go. She ran out and was free basically. But, because the Beast got injured saving her reckless behind from wolves she decided to go back and help him heal.
The Beast goes from frighting creature to helpless injured soul. Now, Belle being the gentle kind person stays with him because he saved her and he needed someone to take care of him.
There, caregiver falls in love with helpless patient, and vise versa. The Nightingale syndrome.
Belle stayed and helped him while he was weak, saw him when he was down and saw his soft side. In her mind, and others, she stilled saw herself as a prisoner of an enchanted castle, which was way better than her poor provincial town (the one she didn't like either). Remember, she always wanted adventure in the great wide out there, well in an enchanted castle with a Beast who just got injured for her, that's plenty of adventure.
So, she connected with the Beast because both are misfit, misunderstood and prisoners of an enchanted castle. It could be many things but she got to know the Beast better when he was injured.
Also, the Beast had some advice from the servants who would try everything to help him fall in love for the sake of everyone in the castle. With those advises and an injured self, the Beast only had to make puppy eyes, and give her a library.
The most lovable and hate-able company of make-belief and dreams come true for peoples of all ages.
It’s so often praised and criticized for its fragile princesses, damsels in distress, and wishes of true love. Lately it has been more praise for its change from fragile D.I.D. to femme fatale, or something seemingly independent, but that is for another post.
Among a favorite to criticize, in my opinion, is Beauty and the Beast (my sister’s favorite).
now the analysis could go both ways if you really want to point out different points of view, but for the sake of argument and just this post, let's stick to just one, the illusion of love.
It is often pointed that Stockholm syndrome is the main reason for Belle to stay and fall in love with the Beast. Some more romantic opinions are that it is indeed true love which connected them. Be what it may both sides of the balanced can be argued, however being the devil’s advocate, let’s use a third one.
My opinion this time is that there was a different syndrome playing here.
To start let me say that she was not really the helpless captive and victim. She chose to stay. She was treated nice by everyone but the Beast, (in the Disney adaptation, in the folk story the Beast continually shows love and affection). Later when she went to the west wing she was basically kicked out of the castle. No one stopped her, not that they could anyway, they just begged her not to go. She ran out and was free basically. But, because the Beast got injured saving her reckless behind from wolves she decided to go back and help him heal.
The Beast goes from frighting creature to helpless injured soul. Now, Belle being the gentle kind person stays with him because he saved her and he needed someone to take care of him.
There, caregiver falls in love with helpless patient, and vise versa. The Nightingale syndrome.
Belle stayed and helped him while he was weak, saw him when he was down and saw his soft side. In her mind, and others, she stilled saw herself as a prisoner of an enchanted castle, which was way better than her poor provincial town (the one she didn't like either). Remember, she always wanted adventure in the great wide out there, well in an enchanted castle with a Beast who just got injured for her, that's plenty of adventure.
So, she connected with the Beast because both are misfit, misunderstood and prisoners of an enchanted castle. It could be many things but she got to know the Beast better when he was injured.
Also, the Beast had some advice from the servants who would try everything to help him fall in love for the sake of everyone in the castle. With those advises and an injured self, the Beast only had to make puppy eyes, and give her a library.
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