Here is an article exploring the origins of the classic fairy tale.The story of Beauty and the Beast has been around for centuries in both written and oral form, and more recently in film and video. Many experts trace similarities back to the stories of Cupid and Psyche, Oedipus and Apuleius’ The Golden Ass of the second century A.D.The tale of Beauty and the Beast was first collected in Gianfranceso Straparola’s Le piacevolo notti (The Nights of Straparola) 1550-53. The earliest French version is an ancient Basque tale where the father was a king and the beast a serpent. Charles Perrault popularized the fairy tale with his collection Contes de ma mere l’oye (Tales of Mother Goose) in 1697. The 17th century Pentamerone is also said to include similar tales.
The first truly similar tale to the one we know today was published in 1740 by Madame Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Gallon de Villeneuve as part of a collection of stories La jeune amériquaine, et les contes marins (told by an old woman during a long sea voyage). Mme. de Villeneuve wrote fairy tale romances drawn from earlier literature and folk tales for the entertainment of her salon friends....
As stories swap back and forth, new elements are introduced and exchanged....Whatever the varying versions or systematic cataloging, the basic values that the stories convey are similar. The story and its questions regarding human values run deeper than the simple facts and details of the tale and remain timeless. We all have the potential to be beautiful or beastly; how do we overcome our ‘monsters’?
(Artwork courtesy of Hermes) Share
7 comments:
+JMJ+
Ugly is as ugly does.
In the early 90s, hundreds--if not thousands--of little girls felt extremely let down by the ending of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, in which the adorable, furry Beast turned back into a boring, handsome prince. At least I know I did--and I'm projecting with impunity. =P
At least the Beast had character, you know. What did the Prince have that the Beast didn't have? Belle had already fallen in love with the Beast, so what did she care?
Well, yes, but since they were the same person, the physical transformation would not have made that great a difference to her heart, except that it would have made it easier to announce the bans. ;)
Very interesting article. I've never really thought about the origins of Beauty & the Beast. Although I have read the original Perrault tales about Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella which aren't quite as Disneyesque as we would imagine.
+JMJ+
Elena: True . . . but the Prince seemed to have changed not just in looks but also in personality. =(
I particularly missed his gruff, rumbling voice. Oh, well . . .
Enbrethiliel, I felt exactly the same way about Jean Cocteau's 1946 Beatuy and the Beast movie (La Belle et la Bete). The Beast was big and strong, had a great mane, a deep voice, and he was a tortured soul. When he came back to life as the Prince, he had long curly locks and was wearing tights, for goodness sake! I'd take the Bete anyday! Thanks, Elena, for the info on this captivating tale.
What did you think of the new remake?
I have not been able to see it yet!
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