Beauty and the Beast – A Bit of History
Since we discussed Beauty and the Beast in two columns last week, I thought it would be interesting to share some history about its different versions. Most of us know the story of a beautiful young woman who tames a beast’s heart. It’s often seen as the ultimate love story. While the French version is the most well-known, there are also Norse and ancient versions that offer unique perspectives on this timeless tale.
All three versions—French, Norse, and the ancient story of Cupid and Psyche—follow a similar storyline. They all revolve around a beautiful young woman who usually has sisters and parents. Something happens that leads to her being sent to live with a beast, either as a sacrifice or through marriage.
Once with the beast, she can’t see his true form and becomes homesick, leading to a visit home. This visit results in her getting bad advice, causing trouble that usually forces her to go on a quest to win the beast back. Ultimately, she and the beast live happily ever after once he’s transformed back into a human.
Cupid and Psyche
The original Beauty and the Beast story, Cupid and Psyche, was written during ancient Roman times to comfort young women facing arranged marriages. In this tale, Psyche, a princess, is forced to marry a beast due to the jealousy of the goddess Venus. However, Venus’s son Cupid defies his mother to be with Psyche, adding a “forbidden lovers” twist similar to Romeo and Juliet.
What’s unique about this version is that Psyche falls in love with Cupid before seeing his face, emphasizing love based on more than appearance. This version also empowers Psyche, who exacts revenge on her jealous sisters and proves herself to her mother-in-law, Venus. Cupid also matures throughout the story, showing their relationship as one that grows stronger over time.
East of the Sun and West of the Moon
The Norse tale, East of the Sun and West of the Moon, seems aimed at the common folk, emphasizing an escape from poverty. The story involves a peasant family whose daughter is asked by a bear (the beast) to marry him. The family’s motivation is financial, highlighting the economic realities of arranged marriages.
In this version, the girl immediately marries the bear and sleeps with him in his human form. The trouble begins when she tries to see his true appearance, following her mother’s bad advice, symbolizing a young bride’s attachment to her home. Unlike the other versions, this story involves a princess as the adversary and focuses on domestic skills as the test of the heroine’s worthiness.
The French Version
The French version, published in 1775 for the upper class, aims to teach young women about good manners and morals. In this tale, Beauty is consistently virtuous, sacrificing herself willingly for her family. The beast represents kindness even though he looks ugly, contrasting with Beauty’s greedy and evil sisters.
This version avoids the subject of sex and doesn’t include a journey for the heroine to win back the beast. Instead, Beauty is rewarded for her virtue and innocence without having to undergo significant trials. The story seems to uphold the existing social order, legitimizing the aristocracy’s lifestyle while cautioning the emerging bourgeoisie against unchecked ambition.
Conclusion
Beauty and the Beast is a story that speaks to the different societies and times in which it was told. Each version adapts the core narrative to offer assistance to young women of that era, whether through moral lessons or empowering themes. Despite their differences, these tales all aim to comfort young women as they leave their homes for a husband’s home.
I hope you found this exploration of Beauty and the Beast’s various versions enlightening and enjoyable. Do you know of another version you’d like to share? Feel free to comment below.
