The patriarchy is the true beast? The story of beauty becoming a beast raises questions about femininity, identity and society. This is years before Disney’s traditional portrayals of Beauty and the Beast. Angela Carter’s The Tiger’s Bride is an feminist version of the traditional fairytale. This was at the heights of 2nd Wave Feminism in Britain, in which bra-burning, power suits, and other feminine empowerment were commonplaces. The story is about a beautiful Russian woman, her gambling husband, and a man tiger. This version makes beauty a beast. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast released in 1991. But it retains the unique flavor of Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont 1740 version. Disney tells the story of Belle, who rescues her father from the Beast and falls in love with him. While some argue that this story is feminist, others point out that the film’s clear cycle of abuses and its theme of obedience kept it in the 1800s. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast reinforces gender stereotypes and has a storyline that dates back several hundred years. The Tiger’s Bride is more forward-looking, allowing the heroine the freedom to express herself and not be subject to her purity or obedience, but an independent individual.
Disney’s stories continue treating women like antiquity and encouraging obedience. Disney’s 1991 animated film for children was released to empower little girls. The film encouraged women (read: Belle), to be smart, but also to accept captivity and abuse without complaining. First, we will discuss Belle’s personality. The opening number is her singing. She takes a moment to tell some sheep about the plot of the story she loves. Although Belle is seen as unique and independent, her favorite fairytale is the Prince Charming one. Despite being rejected by her entire community for her uniqueness, she still holds the dreams of a fairy-tale girl. She is looking for adventure, but also love. She only learns to love the Beast by being close to him and grooming him. This is true love. Because the princess is not Prince Charming yet, it is possible that Belle doesn’t know. Belle’s Stockholm syndrome experience is foreshadowed by her story. The next statement is from the beginning. The witch visits Prince Adam (aka The Beast) at his castle. She is too ugly to turn him away, and he curses her in return. This is a funny statement considering that Belle’s name literally translates to beauty. The Beast did not learn anything from this statement. Even though the Beast is still a beastly and abusive character, he continues to bully and isolate Belle in her castle stay. He is intimidating but through Belle’s kindness and self-sacrifice, he becomes more civilized. This is not a sign that he learned his lesson, but that he finally got the woman he desired to be his babysitter. This is the most accurate commentary on the dichotomy of Belle’s intelligence and independence and her femininity, as it was presented in ‘Gender Role Portrayal & The Disney Princesses’. The author writes, “This princess [Belle] showed very high rates intellectual activity as her reading habits were frequent.” (564). My assertion is that Belle’s “feminist” characteristics made her disliked and isolated. She was also treated disrespectfully when she was with the townspeople. Her masculine qualities, like her curiosity and adventurous spirit, made her a target for the hyper-masculine Gaston and made her a love subject to the Beast. She was only rewarded for her obedience and selflessness when she married the Beast. Angela Carter’s “Lost Husband” story-type emphasizes the self-sufficiency and not making the heroine a commodity, like Disney’s. Angela Carter edited several fairy tales to reflect a feminist perspective in an anthology. Although the story portrays a woman being held captive and treating her property as a slave (the Tiger’s Bride, the title), is portrayed in disturbing images, her heroine is strong, resilient, and won’t give up until she gets her soapbox. This tale was written in 1970 during 2nd wave Feminism. It shows the heroine’s more “masculine” traits as well as in a sexy positive light. This line from the book best illustrates the character’s evolution: “The Tiger will Never Lay Down with the Lamb… The Lamb must Learn to Run with the Tigers” (Classic/Carter63). Although she is first presented as a sheep, her heroine becomes an animal. She comes to realize her worth. She is not the selfless protagonist we see in this story because of how her father treated her. As the Beast demands, she will not accept her father’s return. She is more concerned about her own decisions. She is independent and decides what her fate will be. She states that the Beast asked her to be naked because she wants to see virginal flesh. Her purity is not important to her, but she sees it as a commodity. She wishes she was not a virgin to ensure that the beast wouldn’t abuse it for his own purposes. The male lead is clearly wrong and the female one doesn’t care about her choices. She is independent sexually, but refuses to objectify. The Beast’s staff is not her priority. She also doesn’t want to sacrifice her father again. Her attitude changes when she is allowed to see a piece of the Beast. She is self-sufficient and longs for equality. This puts emphasis on balance. The heroine decides to take on the masculine traits and become a beast. Seago explains this choice in her book ‘New Wine In Old Bottles’. Angela Carter’s Bloody Chamber of Revisioned Fairy Tales’. ‘New Wine in Old Bottles’ (19 of 77-98). The heroine finds happiness by becoming a beast, and she finds freedom. The beauty of beastliness is more attractive than artificial human facades and society’s perceptions. The Beast looks stunning in his human form, but is just as beautiful when he is in his animal form. It is possible to return to animalistic desires and nature without being sexist about ethical choices. Although the Disney film was twelve years old, The Tiger’s Bride portrays women more accurately than any Disney film. The patriarchal issues that still exist in our society are illustrated by Disney’s decision to stick to tradition. As Inquiries Journal reports, Carter’s story has the opposite effect. “Angela Carter’s Beauty doesn’t act as an agent of civilization on the Beast” is the article. In fact, she becomes a beast. Although she initially resents the Beast, she soon learns to love his life and independence. Her father treated her with contempt and the nature of human beings is what made the Beast’s desires so perverse, her father taught her that beastliness is better than civility. Carter’s heroine can’t civilize a tiger even if it tried. He’s not cursed. His servants don’t have to be cursed. He is a Beast, and he will always be a Beast. Carter’s protagonist was also hot-headed. The Beast’s behavior isn’t something she can change, and Carter isn’t supposed to. Disney’s Belle, however, is intended to civilize Beast. She must be subservient to him and keep her head up, even when he abuses her. Her love and obedience help the cursed Beast return to humanity. Secondly, Belle is weaker than Carter’s counterpart. The following is an excerpt from “Gender Role Portrayal, the Disney Princesses”. It states that Belle is more independent than her Carter counterpart, but is also very fearful. (p. 564) Belle is seen crying after being captured. However, the tiger’s wife is determined and strong in spite of being held captive. Belle is calm and compliant. However, Belle’s feminist counterpart, who is educated and well-bred is not afraid of questioning authority (e.g. She is surrounded by males. This makes her equal to her oppressors. Intentionally, Belle is made to appear weaker than Carter’s heroine. The Disney film’s adult audience will find sexist jokes that are not in keeping with Angela Carter’s feminist ideals. One example is the dialogue between Beast, his servant, and Cogsworth. It reads, Beast: I want something for her… but how? Cogsworth says, “Beast: I want to do something for her… but what?” (00:46.20). This is a clear example of chauvinist adult humor. The story shows that the men view everything, even women, as conquests. They regard women as simple and subservient, and thus become satisfied. The Disney’s Beauty and the Beast story is still very unadulterated, while The Tiger’s Bride shows a progressive and unapologetic 1970’s feminism that embraces masculine and sexual traits. You can regress. Disney doesn’t hide its stereotypes and objectifications of females.
