After reading the fully loaded original version of Beauty and the Beast by Madame Barbot de Villeneuve, the shortened version by Madame LePrince de Beaumont is lack luster. Sorry, fellow fans, but it just kinda is. It establishes the important basics that make up the elements of consistent BATB tales, but there's not much drama, conflict or interest to draw you in.
So, pick roses, read and write on, Fellow Fans!
Quotes from the Beauty and the Beast: The Ultimate Collection published in 2014 by Enhanced Ebooks Publishing.
Let me restate that I am not a literary critic, reviewer or smart in literary analysis in any way. Just to be clear. The comments that follow are those of a girl who loves to read and who loves to read Beauty & the Beast tales.
Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont was a French author, living in the 1700s. She wrote her version of La Belle et La Bête as a magasin - an instructional handbook for parents and teachers. It appeared in Le Magasin des Enfants in 1756. She was quite the writer, producing upwards of 70 literary works. Quite a few of which were fairy tales.
I have not read Madame LePrince de Beaumont's other works, so I don't know if La Belle et La Bête is the only tale she crafted with a clear, underlying moral. Unlike Madame Barbot de Villeneuve's version, which was a rousing soap opera-type affair (click here for reflections on that version), my expectation for a simple, moral-rich fairy tale was met with this one. After having read the original, I'm under-whelmed, but I can't argue with the premise of the tale. I'm hoping there's more to the story of plagiarism, so for now, judgment allayed.
Beauty & the Beast basics are reinforced in this tale:
While short on the shock and awe factor, there are a few notables:
Madame LePrince de Beaumont has stripped the tale down to the necessities to convey a simple morale lesson: Ladies, choose virtue over attractiveness and wit. Don't be fooled, girls, the cutest and mouthiest don't make for the wisest choices, says Madame LePrince, even if you're ho-hum about your potential mate. Afterall, screw sizzle and connection. Let's be stable and boring. While Beauty is visiting her family, she finds herself missing the Beast as she notices the annoying, self-centered habits of her brothers-in-law. She remembers with fondness the Beast's virtues:
You know what else bothers me? Why was Beast enchanted in the first place? Maybe Beauty would like to know this before she agrees to marry him once he's human again. And while I understand the importance of the lesson to young ladies and the prudence of choosing wisely, I can't help but miss the encouragement to find your person -- not just choosing based on comfort and mutual virtues. Underlying character is so very important in a relationship, but what about the underlying spark of love that will carry you through the times when you aren't so infatuated with your mate and complaisance is out the window. Indeed however, I am reminded of my good friend Jane Austen's quote from Pride & Prejudice:
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| Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont, 1711 - 1780 |
I have not read Madame LePrince de Beaumont's other works, so I don't know if La Belle et La Bête is the only tale she crafted with a clear, underlying moral. Unlike Madame Barbot de Villeneuve's version, which was a rousing soap opera-type affair (click here for reflections on that version), my expectation for a simple, moral-rich fairy tale was met with this one. After having read the original, I'm under-whelmed, but I can't argue with the premise of the tale. I'm hoping there's more to the story of plagiarism, so for now, judgment allayed.
Beauty & the Beast basics are reinforced in this tale:
- Beauty's father is a wealthy merchant who fell into trouble.
- Beauty is a young, beautiful maiden, good-natured and positive.
- Beast's castle is enchanted with magical caretakers.
- Beast asks for Beauty's hand in marriage each evening.
- Beast has a TV mirror of sorts to troll individuals.
- The Merchant is picking a rose when accosted by the Beast and promises to return himself. Beauty takes his place willingly.
- Beauty returns to the Beast after visiting her family.
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| Jean Cocteau's La Belle et La Bête |
While short on the shock and awe factor, there are a few notables:
- Chocolat chaud (#moarhotchocolate) is a signature breakfast sip.
- Beauty is down to 5 siblings -- three kind, dutiful brothers and two ego-centric, spiteful sisters.
- Beauty is visited in a dream on her first night in the castle by a "beautiful lady," which just sets me up wanting more background into this mysterious lady.
- Beauty's sisters are turned into statues at the end until they successfully self-reflect on their negative attitudes.
Madame LePrince de Beaumont has stripped the tale down to the necessities to convey a simple morale lesson: Ladies, choose virtue over attractiveness and wit. Don't be fooled, girls, the cutest and mouthiest don't make for the wisest choices, says Madame LePrince, even if you're ho-hum about your potential mate. Afterall, screw sizzle and connection. Let's be stable and boring. While Beauty is visiting her family, she finds herself missing the Beast as she notices the annoying, self-centered habits of her brothers-in-law. She remembers with fondness the Beast's virtues:
"I should be happier with the monster than my sisters are with their husbands; it is neither wit, nor a fine person, in a husband, that makes a woman happy, but virtue, sweetness of temper, and complaisance, and Beast has all these valuable qualifications. It is true, I do not feel the tenderness of affection for him, but I find I have the highest gratitude, esteem, and friendship; I will not make him miserable, were I to be so ungrateful I should never forgive myself."And when Beauty returns to the Beast and finds him prostrate and starving himself:
"No, dear Beast," said Beauty, "you must not die. Live to be my husband; from this moment I give you my hand, and swear to be none but yours. Alas! I thought I had only friendship for you, but the grief I now feel convinces me, that I cannot live without you."I guess that's a statement of love and passion? And we're not even going to discuss how Beauty plans to fulfill her wifely duties, or are they just going to be friends without the benefits?
You know what else bothers me? Why was Beast enchanted in the first place? Maybe Beauty would like to know this before she agrees to marry him once he's human again. And while I understand the importance of the lesson to young ladies and the prudence of choosing wisely, I can't help but miss the encouragement to find your person -- not just choosing based on comfort and mutual virtues. Underlying character is so very important in a relationship, but what about the underlying spark of love that will carry you through the times when you aren't so infatuated with your mate and complaisance is out the window. Indeed however, I am reminded of my good friend Jane Austen's quote from Pride & Prejudice:
"She certainly did not hate him. [speaking of Elizabeth and Darcy] No; hatred had vanished long ago, and she had almost as long been ashamed of ever feeling a dislike against him that could so be called. The respect created by the conviction of his valuable qualities, though at first unwillingly admitted, had for some time ceased to be repugnant to her feelings, and it was not heightened into somewhat of a friendlier nature by the testimony so highly in his favor, and bringing forward his disposition in so amiable a light, which yesterday had produced. But above all, above respect and esteem, there was a motive within her of good-will which could not be overlooked."Miss Austen is encouraging a similar lesson. Her characters' professions of love are also typically soft and of the "amiable"-type. Maybe I read way too many fanciful romance novels where soul mates meet and smack into each other in a super collider of love and passion. Too idealistic. Oh, for sure. But this is a #judgefreezone.
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| Rose garden in the Rotorua Government Garden, NZ ︱ Nov 2018 |
I conclude with gratitude that Madame LePrince de Beaumont established a firm foundation for the timeless elements of the Beauty & the Beast story. Her version was widely published into many languages and countries across Europe. And as we note from the many iterations of fan fiction, very much widely loved.
So, pick roses, read and write on, Fellow Fans!
Quotes from the Beauty and the Beast: The Ultimate Collection published in 2014 by Enhanced Ebooks Publishing.
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