From: cs64fad@sdcc8.ucsd.edu (Robert Cook)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Re: Precursor stories to BatB?
Date: 10 Nov 92 21:33:21 GMT
Article-I.D.: sdcc12.40849
Organization: University of California, San Diego

In article <1992Nov10.142507.22867@rchland.ibm.com> chung@rchland.vnet.ibm.com (Vicente Chung) writes:
>
>I thought that this was interesting and this and other stories may inspired 
>Beauty and the Beast.  I certainly don't know where the original
>Beauty and the Beast story came from.
>
>
>VE Chung

I don't think *anyone* can know where it came from.  It's a "tale as
old as time," you know.  There are many versions from the Orient, as
well as Europe (often involving fish, for some reason).  The story
is generally considered French probably because of the very popular
versions that were written in France somewhat recently.  The most
concise version of the story appears to be that of Madame Le Prince
de Beaumont, on which Disney's version is probably based.  Mdm.
Beaumont very likely based her tale on Mdm. D'Aulnoy's version,
which drags a bit in the middle.  The Disney film has probably
"Frenchified" the tale permanently.

I think this is going to become a somewhat lengthy post (can't
help myself).  Here is a "brief" ;-) synopsis of what most people
consider the basic tale:

A wealthy merchant had three daughters and three sons.  His youngest
daughter was the gem of the lot, as well as the fairest, so her
father always called her Beauty (in original French, she is always
"La Belle," or "The Beauty"--it was not her proper name originally).

Through terrible misfortune, all his ships were lost and they became
poor and were forced to live in a small cottage away from town.
Beauty dealt with it admirably along with her brothers, but her sisters
couldn't bear to be poor, and hated Beauty for making them look bad.

One day, the merchant heard that one of his shipments had come
through.  Immediately, his daughters asked for all manners of
clothing and fine goods that would surely use up any money their
father would receive.  Beauty, not wishing her sisters to hate her
even more, had to ask for something.  She simply asked for a single
rose (still made her sisters look bad).

The merchant set off for the ship, and found that the crew had taken
away his goods.  On the way home, he lost himself in a forest and
stumbled onto a castle.  He entered the apparently uninhabited
castle and found a table overflowing with food.  He dared to eat it
and stayed the night, with no one to thank.  Just as he was about to
return home, he saw a rose briar and remembered his promise to
Beauty.

He plucked a rose and was confronted by a hideous Beast, who loved
his roses more than any treasure.  The Beast told the merchant that
he must die unless one of his daughters was to die in his place.  He
let the merchant return home for three days to make preparations.
(It should be noted that the Beast had no intention of killing
anyone)

Beauty was blamed by her sisters, but mostly by herself.  She
returned with her father (against his wishes) and surrendered
herself to the Beast to save her father's life.

[I'm going to quicken the pace]

Each night, the Beast would watch Beauty eat and then ask her to
marry him despite his ugliness.  She refused each time, and the
Beast simply bid her good night and left the room.  One day, she saw
in a magic mirror (wall-mounted) that her father was growing sick
with grief, and asked the Beast if she could return home for a
while.

[Okay, this time I really mean quicker]

Beast gave Belle magic ring to return in one week
Beauty returned home
After week, sisters rubbed onions in eyes and pretended to want her to
stay (actually a ploy, hence the onions)
Beauty stayed another week but realized how much she missed Beast
Dreamt that Beast was dead
Put on ring and was returned to castle
Found Beast dying of starvation (a suicide attempt)
Confessed love for Beast, who became prince
Fireworks, joy, marriage, happily ever after, sisters turned to
statues as punishment

Whew!  During Beauty's stay at Beast's castle, a fairy entered her
dreams and kept telling her not to judge by appearances.  Beauty
didn't quite get it until it was almost too late.  The Beast in this
story was always kind and gentle.  Disney's adaptation is more
believable in this respect (and has a savvier heroine).

Note that there is no Gaston.  Some longer French versions do
include a protagonist, but none quite like Gaston.  Belle's evil
sisters probably became the Bimbettes.

Jean Cocteau's wonderful "La Belle et la Bete" film is a likely
influence.  There are what looks like human arms holding candelabra
(sound familiar?) in the walls of the castle.  There is also a scene
with Beauty's brother in a tavern, but I don't clearly remember it.

Another version, I *think* it is Andrew Lang's, includes a portrait
of the prince and a lion's head knocker.  Disney's Belle pulls on
such a knocker to open the door to the Beast's chamber.  The
knocker's color scheme clashes with the hallway and door, making me
wonder if it was meant to be animated at one time (look at it and tell
me what you think).

There are just so many influences to point out that I couldn't
possibly do it here.  I've written a lengthy paper on this, BTW, reading
many different stories in the process.  I wish I could find it.  :-(

Anyway, this is for people who are not all that familiar with the
tale of Beauty and the Beast.  I personally knew nothing about it
until seeing Disney's version, which, IMHO, is the best I've
encountered.

For those interested in learning more, I suggest reading Betsy
Hearne's "Beauty and the Beast: Visions and Revisions of an Old
Tale," Library of Congress call number PQ1995.L75 B434 1989.

Any questions?


- Robert Cook
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney