Stereotypes - Beatriz Reis

Stereotypes in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

It is known that every Disney movie has uncountable stereotypes, and The Beauty and the Beast is not an exception.

Belle, the main character, seems to be an independent girl who loves reading and wants “more than this provincial life”, unlike other princesses who also lived happily ever after. However, during the movie she turns out to be a lost romantic and her aspirations, short sighted. The adventure she had been looking for is nothing more than finding love – she is a typical Disney princess. She also follows beauty and personality patterns: Belle has full lips, an astonishing hair, and thin waist; she is white, attractive and extremely sweet.

The Beast is the arrogant and violent male character whose temper and appearance is changed because of love, which could suggest that ugly people and animals are evil, and the beautiful ones are good. He is discriminated by the villagers the moment they learn he really exists, judging his character only by his looks. The Beast, being Belle’s prince, has to save her from violent snarling wolves.

Gaston, Belle’s suitor, is the villain of the plot. The handsome huntsman starts the movie as an extremely sexist, though humorous, buffoon. Later, nevertheless, he evolves to a menacing and murderous man. Despite his arrogant and vain behavior, he is hailed as the local hero for his strength and beauty, being, then, valued for his appearance. Gaston is that popular character whose social success comes from being powerful and a great match for all women.

The Beauty and the Beast has a crazy inventor too – Belle’s father Maurice. He is always misunderstood and no villager believes what he says. Le Fou, Gaston’s apple polisher, is a loyal (and stupid) friend, in spite of frequent abuse. The talking objects living inside the Beast’s castle can also be analyzed as examples of stereotypes: Cogsworth is a responsible servant, whose opinion is never taken into consideration, which can suggest that the rules, whatever they might be, are not so important. Lumière is the movie’s casanova, for he is a charmer and has an affair with the Featherduster. Mrs. Pots represents the loving mother, who takes care of everyone, gives the others pieces of advice, and spends most of her time in the kitchen.

The dumb blonde stereotype is also present in The Beauty and the Beast, being represented by the Bimbettes, the triplets who fawn over Gaston. Other women’s gender role in the movie is the one of the housewife, who takes care of the kids, likes to spread gossip and is worried about chores.

It is clear then that The Beauty and the Beast has plenty of stereotypes, a movie which presents its characters superficially and shows no psychological depth.