Jericho Z Barrons. Beast? Definitely.
Beauty's Beast? Let's Assess.

Here's a question that I'm sure is plaguing us all: How do we process the beast characters that don't act very Beauty-and-the-Beastly? Ha!

Our fairytales love the Beast who fits the mold - alpha hero, alpha anti-hero, badass beast with an honor code. But what about beasts that don't have a squishy center?

In the Fever series, author Karen Marie Moning has created one of my favorite supporting alpha male characters - Jericho Z Barrons. He's enigmatic, powerful, primal, and a rather non-anti-hero. Barrons is unapologetically Barrons. It's refreshing - he's not trying to develop - he's static, and the perfect foil for a spazzy, freshly-minted, resourceful southern belle.

How would he measure up against the traditional Beast from the original Beauty and the Beast fairytale?

Jericho Z Barrons as the Beast in Beauty and the Beast

Let's consider how Barrons would compare the OG Beast and himself:*

	Beast	Barrons
Cursed	Yep	Yep
Rescued by Beauty	Yep	"Never pity me, Ms. Lane. I like what I am." (Barrons, Shadowfever)
Lives in a magical "castle"	Yep	Kinda, it’s space-bending for sure
Mild-mannered	Yep	Ah, no
Visits Beauty in her dreams as the "Beloved Unknown"	Yep	F*ck that.
Obsessed with Beauty	Not sure we know that - maybe to break the curse?	Yep

*I posit Barrons would posit he's the OG Beast, and it's a stupid fairytale.

"Stop pining for the man you think I could be - and take a good, long, hard look at the one I am." -Barrons, Darkfever

My assessment is that Barrons is not a flavor of Beast from Beauty and the Beast. He doesn't fit the original nor typical elements of the beast character. He does serve as a counterpoint to Beauty's development, but not in the passive, mild-mannered way the Beast does in the original fairytales (with the exception of being a brute about the roses).

But I do think he's a creation influenced by Beauty and the Beast lore. He's the primal beast in civilized packaging that is intriguing. I appreciate the commentary and perspective Jerry Griswold shares in his book, The Meanings of Beauty & the Beast: A Handbook. He highlights three themes commonly shared across BATB retellings:

Missing Wildness (p 16, 23) - We all yearn for the lost wildness of civilized society and even the notion of a beastly lover.
Feminine Empowerment (p 16) - Beauty separates from her family, making her own choice for the future.
Otherness (p 25) - Beauty and the Beast challenges our reactions to "otherness," specifically those not like us.

Barrons definitely hits those thematic marks. He's primal, a powerful beastly lover and protector. A supporting character for sure, but one with a few key roles that hit the Beauty and the Beast themes.

Barrons is the Primeval Alpha Male with No Squishy Center

Barrons is nothing if not primal, enigmatic and powerful. He's primeval packaged up in a posh Italian suit. "One foot in the swamp. Never going to crawl all the way out." (Faefever)

Unlike popular alpha male tropes, Barrons doesn't come with a squishy candy center. He's nails throughout, take it or leave it. He re-writes rules for Mac, sure, but there's no gooey expressions of love with dreamy eyes.

"What are you, Barrons?"
"The one who will never let you die, and that's more, Ms. Lane, than anyone in your life has ever been able to say to you. More than anyone else can do." -Barrons, Bloodfever

Barrons Supports Mac's Self Empowerment

Barrons is a key catalyst guiding? mentoring? (both feel like tame words for Barrons' pushiness) Mac as she comes into her own - her self empowerment, resilience, leadership and choice for her future self. An interesting thing to consider, Barrons the mentor doesn't fade or perish as they often do in many tales. Mac morphs around him, absorbing his foil in a different way - partner, lover. He plays a variety of roles in the Fever plotline and the drive in Mac's character development. The Beast in Angela Carter's "The Tiger's Bride" comes to mind: "The tiger will never lie down with the lamb; he acknowledges no pact that is not reciprocal. The lamb must learn to run with the tigers." It's a good synopsis of Barrons' expectation that Mac evolve from innocent, apathetic, southern belle to critical-minded, spear-wielding warrior before he's willing to engage long-term.

Barrons Makes Otherness Bad-Ass

Barrons is sometimes referred to as a Beast to Mac's Beauty, but I don't think he is. He doesn't need saving, he's embraced his curse. Barrons is definitely "other," and he's settled in this otherness. He's un-apologetic about who and what he is. Further, I like that he demands acceptance of who he is and pushes that point with Mac. He doesn’t settle, should Mac not accept him and his otherness fully. "You want truths from me? See me when you look at me." -Barrons, Faefever.

My Infatuation with Jericho Z Barrons

Yeah, so, I am infatuated with Jericho Barrons, and for all the reasons above. While Mac is temperamental and sometimes annoying along her journey, I like the foil Barrons provides with his witty banter and high expectations. He's not romantic, he's pointed and dedicated.

I like the juxtaposition that is Barrons. He isn't a fairytale prince… but he is. He's caveman protector, but allows space for Mac to do her thing. He likes the pink ruffles, but he's grumbly about it.

"One day you may kiss a man you can't breathe without, and find breath is of little consequence." - Barrons, Bloodfever

I like that Barrons and Mac circle each other for most of the five book series, even after he "rescues" her from sex-slave-ville. I appreciate that they don't hop in the sack right away, but (mostly) work through their relationship first (at least we don't find out about night one until what? book 6?).

"You're Mac," he says. "And I'm Jericho. And nothing else matters. Never will. You exist in a place that is beyond all rules for me. Do you understand that?" -Barrons, Shadowfever