Disability as a theme in the film:
Disability is an issue which crops up considerably during the film Beauty and the Beast. The Beast is seen as someone who has a severe disability and this hampers him in turn from achieving a normal life. His love for Belle cannot be consummated as his sheer ugliness repels everyone and this is a major stumbling point in this regard. Disability theory is also an important part of the film as it shows how the Beast appears stunted and without any possible opportunities for advancement.
The Beast’s disability is also a consistent leitmotif throughout the film as it also demonstrates that he cannot live a normal life and that Belle shuns him initially because of this. Prejudice against disability is another important part of the film and this theme recurs constantly and consistently throughout.
Feminism as a point of focus in the film
One can look at the story from various aspects and one of them is that it is a kind of freak show. The Disney film makes a lot of emphasis on the ugliness of the beast where he is described as an ugly beast with a face of a monster. Belle and her father shocked at his beastly, horrifying appearance. This once again is the theme of disability with the disabled person having to face humiliation and abandonment apart from being constantly ridiculed (Ginell, 2010).
Feminism also crops up where Belle is the heroine because she saves her father life. But the Beast is also a hero because he saved Belle’s life and although there is a focus on his disability, his nobility wins through in the end.
Feminist Theory
Feminist theory highlights the fact that Disney's Belle is a very feminist-type figure.
Amongst the points which address the feminist theory, one may indicate the following:
Belle is reading book (educating herself), reading is an important part of independence and feminism. The fact that the beast is competing for Belle’s advances indicates that her feminist tendencies are all important. The scenes where Belle confronts the beast on his condition are also crucial and important (Ginell 2010).
Belle also is a feminist figure in the way she deals with Gaston and his proposal to marry him and how she deals with the other men in her life. Her characteristics and traits are continually exposed in the film and she also employs avant garde techniques in this respect whilst always coming up with new foibles that demonstrate her intrinsic feminism.
Belle goes to the Beast's castle by herself to save her father from the Beast and this shows a certain element of female independence. The fact that Belle would actually consider doing this at all being a woman shows how advanced she is her independence and her determination in proving that she is really her own woman. This is feminism at the very peak (Smith, Grady, 2011).
Feminism exhibited by Belle actually supports a patriarchal culture, one can observe this in the relationship with her father. Her father influences her but in a sense this imbues the male characteristic in her for actual independence.
CONCLUSION:
Beauty and the Beast is a beautiful film which combines several facets of female liberalism and other social theories especially those where ugliness and shame are concerned. The transformation of Belle with regard to the Beast is one of the seminal moments of the film and perhaps everything really centres on that. The espousal of feminist theory is also an interesting aspect of the film and although this is not exactly noticeable immediately, it is the crux on which the film seems to rest.
References:
Stewart, Jocelyn (February 10, 2008). "John Alvin, 59; created movie posters for such films as "Blazing Saddles" and "E.T."". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 10, 2008.
LePrince de Beaumont, Jeanne-Marie (1783). "Containing Dialogues between a Governess and Several Young Ladies of Quality Her Scholars". The Young Misses Magazine(London) 1: 45–67.
Ginell, Carl (August 2, 2007). "Beauty and the Beaststellar". Toacorn.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
Smith, Grady (October 4, 2011). "'Beauty and the Beast,' 'The Little Mermaid,' 'Finding Nemo,' 'Monsters, Inc.' get 3-D re-releases". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
