Belle From Beauty And The Beast

There are characters that remain a precious part of literary history, and the representations of them change over time to match societal expectations or to bring new life to a tried and true tale. One such character is the beauty from La Belle et la Bête (Beauty and the Beast).

The original French tale has been retold for centuries, with various changes in her story to accommodate readers and adapt to a screenplay. While this analysis of the character aims to cover a variety of versions, it won’t encompass all.

This character analysis specifically reflects upon the original renditions of Beauty and the Disney adaptation.

The Original Beauty - Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villenueve

The original Beauty has compassion like no other, yet a defiance that leads her to her fate. She loves her father fiercely and willingly pays the debt to take his place. This leads her to an adventure she never expected (nor wanted) as she learns to live in the enchanted castle.

Despite the circumstances, she is kind. Denying the Beast’s requests to marry him every night leads her to fall in love with the prince who waltzes through her dreams. She is rewarded with a lavish life that others envy and is permitted to do as she pleases as she wins the heart of the monster that holds her prisoner.

Even when faced with sisters who wish for her demise, Beauty treats them with unmatched kindness and understanding, setting the tone for the character as a whole. While it can be argued that Beauty lacks a distinctive character, it can also be argued that she is the idealized version of beauty incarnate.

This combination of personality, familial duty, and genuine care portrays her as a classic (and perhaps exaggerated) female figure archetype in literature. She is Beauty.

Classic Belle - Paige O'Hara

O'Hara is the original, the sweetest, and the most iconic Belle of all. She first gave the character life, giving Belle a wild spirit with a tame exterior.

Belle only has kind things to say, even when standing her ground. She is rooted in truth and determination but coated with kindness when necessary.

The voice of Paige O’Hara echoes across memory and provides an air of innocence that betrays her naïveté. While Belle is not foolish, she is inexperienced and longing for the world beyond her village. Trading her life for her father’s is no question.

Her attitude towards the situation is both one of duty and of curiosity. Her gentle tone and patience brings the Beast back from the isolation he has secluded himself in and warms him up to people he thought would reject him.

Together, they develop a genuine bond that displays that appearances are deceiving. O’Hara’s incarnation of Belle elaborates on beauty inside and out, highlighting a fiery yet calm character. Her actions reflect her generosity and the aura of serenity she carries. She is peace.

Broadway Belle - Susan Egan

Egan is a godsend. Diverting from the original, Egan creates Belle with a more witty and snarky attitude, while still holding true to that passionate and wild spirit. Her quirks and expressive nature develop into something pure and wholesome. This incarnation, however, seeks adventure and acceptance more so than her predecessor.

Trading her life for her father is not a choice, but a heartfelt obligation to honor the man who sees the best in her. Her view towards the situation is one of cruelty, actively voicing how the Beast is a fool and a monster while simultaneously longing for a home she no longer knows.

Her interactions with everyone display her strong attitude and open mind, even acknowledging the change in her as she grows up during her time with the Beast. She is open to change and willing to be wrong.

This honesty is what makes the Beast reconsider how he's been approaching the curse, and genuinely opens his heart to reading and romance, bringing him out of his childish mindset and into one that reflects the man he wants to be for Belle. She is passion.

Live Action Belle - Emma Watson

Watson is the modern version of Belle, but without any of the class or wit. She is what people think of when they think of "feminist," adding both good and bad qualities to the character. The intent behind this portrayal was hopeful, if not contradictory to the nature of the character.

While this Belle is far more curt and standoffish, she also reflects the feelings of rejection and isolation that are often overlooked. This allows her to connect more with the Beast, bringing them more common ground as equals.

The trade-off, however, is the tension between them. Rather than a budding romance between two misunderstood outcasts, we have two begrudging allies against the world, though that world has all but forgotten both of them.

Wason’s performance falls flat for most of the film, though there are moments when she shines. These moments are solely captured in the exclusive theatrical content, such as the new songs and the bits that expand her background.

Everything else seems to be geared towards hitting story beats like clockwork rather than developing a genuine connection, though the chemistry has enough of a foundation to be seen.

It seems more like the Beast shapes this Belle into a more patient and understanding person, taking an unprecedented route for the tale. She is persistent.

30th Anniversary Belle - H.E.R.

H.E.R. is a gift. When she graced the stage in the iconic peasant dress, she encompassed the adventurous spirit and the desire for something more than her small village. In the legendary and glorious golden gown, she radiated beauty in every way.

H.E.R. was the perfect choice for the 30th anniversary, as she presented Belle in a new way while claiming a piece of the story for herself. Adding her unique take created a glorious layer of depth in her performance, as he voice transcended the concert hall.

Her voice is a song that blends all attributes of Belle into one breathtaking performance while also redefining femininity. She captures the heart of the beast through her gentle and reflecting nature while also standing her ground and advocating change within. While she has less screen time to interact with other characters, she is able to carry the sweet and fiery spirit of Belle.

Here we see more of her heart for adventure and a tale of her own, which joins with the Beast's own yearning for more. This compatibility balances both the friendship and budding romance into an epic classic reimagined. She is precious.

Final Thoughts On Belle

The original beauty is quite different from the most recent versions, though she sets the foundation for every retelling after. She has inspired many to reinvent the tale of love and kindness through the eyes of every generation.