Beauty and the Beast – A Brief History
Since we talked about Beauty and the Beast extensively last week, I thought it would be interesting to delve into the history of its various versions. “Beauty and the Beast” is a timeless classic that everyone, regardless of age, seems to know. It’s often seen as the ultimate love story, where a beautiful young woman tames the heart of a beast. While most people are familiar with the French version, there are other interesting versions like the Norse “East of the Sun and West of the Moon” and the oldest known version, “Cupid and Psyche.” These different iterations reveal much about the societies they came from and their purposes.
All three versions follow a similar structure: a beautiful young woman, who often has at least two sisters and her parents’ involvement, ends up as a sacrifice to a beast. Invariably, she isn’t allowed to see the beast’s true form, grows homesick, and is given bad advice from family members which she follows, leading to trouble. Eventually, she undertakes a quest to reunite with the beast, who transforms back into a human, and they live happily ever after. Each version tweaks the story to suit its audience and social context.
Cupid and Psyche
The original version, “Cupid and Psyche,” was intended for young women facing arranged marriages in ancient Rome. In the story, an old gypsy woman tells the tale to a kidnapped, recently married young woman to comfort her about her arranged marriage. In this version, a princess is married to a beast (Cupid) because the goddess Venus, jealous of her beauty, wants to make her life miserable. Venus’ son, Cupid, defies his mother to marry Psyche, incorporating a theme of forbidden love.
This version is more detailed, providing greater depth to Cupid’s character. Unlike other versions, Psyche falls in love with Cupid before seeing his face, demonstrating genuine love beyond physical appearances. This likely served as a reassurance for brides entering arranged marriages. It also portrays Psyche as more assertive—when tricked by her sisters, she takes revenge, showing independence and strength.
East of the Sun and West of the Moon
The Norse version, “East of the Sun and West of the Moon,” was written for the common Scandinavian people, unlike the French version targeting the upper class. This story has a more traditional fairytale setting near mountains, rich with mystery and magic. Instead of focusing on good manners and virtues, it highlights the theme of economic opportunity in marriage. The girl’s family is tempted by wealth to accept the bear’s proposal.
The heroine in this tale immediately marries the bear, and their consummation isn’t shied away from. The bad advice comes from her mother, symbolizing the strong attachment to home. When the girl embarks on a journey to win back the bear, she competes with a greedy princess, showing that true virtue is about selflessness and domestic skill—qualities highly valued in the society the story was written for.
French Beauty and the Beast
The French version, published in “Le Magasin des enfants” in 1775 by Jeanne Marie Leprince de Beaumont, aimed to educate young upper-class women on proper behavior and morals. Here, the heroine is self-sacrificing, virtuous, and helps her father with housework. Unlike other versions, the French Beauty does not marry the Beast immediately, avoiding the subject of sex. Instead, the story focuses on virtues like respect, gratitude, and friendship, signaling young women to be content with arranged marriages.
This version doesn’t involve a quest for the heroine to regain the Beast. Instead, she simply returns to the castle and agrees to marry him, ensuring a happy ending. The setting shifts to a rich middle-class family, warning against the arrogance and ambition seen in the sisters’ characters. The Beast, although outwardly ugly, is kind and misunderstood, contrasting with the beautiful yet greedy sisters—a likely commentary on the emerging bourgeoisie’s societal behavior.
Conclusion
Each version of Beauty and the Beast not only defines “love conquers all” but also reflects the cultural values and societal norms of its time. Whether it’s through empowerment or moral lessons, these stories were designed to comfort and guide young women facing new and often daunting life changes. Have you come across another version of Beauty and the Beast? Feel free to share!
