Beauty and the Beast

We looked at Cinderella in all the different lens theories. I decided to look at another Disney movie, Beauty and the Beast, and see if there was a common theme, if it was viewed through the Marxist lens.

The quick role changes from oppressor to victim was one aspect that stood out the most in the movie. In the beginning, the prince was the oppressor, who viewed very individual as ranking below him. When the beggar woman came, he saw her and decided that he did not need to offer his help. He quickly changed from the oppressor to the victim though when he was changed into the beast. The old beggar woman changed from a needy homeless woman, to a strong enchantress. Later on in the story as well, the Beast took Belle hostage. As a hostage she was forced to wear a certain dress and forced to come down to dinner, Belle was clearly the victim, while the Beast dictated her. Belle soon took control though and did not fear the Beast when he yelled, and continuously yelled back. Although she was still considered a hostage, she was conversing and acting like she was an equal.

The difference between Belle and Cinderella though was their economic status. Cinderella was very pretty and came from a rich family, although she was treated poorly. Although Belle was good looking, she came from a middle to lower class family. Cinderella was able to move through the upper ranks to get to the prince because of her social standings and because of her looks. If she had not been a part of the upper class, her and her family would not have been invited to the ball. Belle did not have to move through the upper ranks to marry her prince. If she had been upper class, she would have travelled on a better road in better transportation and would not have been in the situation that Belle was in. Because of her lower rank, she was able to meet the Beast and fall in love.

Material items were also not as prevalent in Beauty and the Beast, as they were in Cinderella. Gowns and carriages and other wealthy material items, were very important to Cinderella in achieving her status. Without these things, she would not have been “good enough” to go to the ball. Everything that was described in the story Cinderella was very lavish and decorated, and that did not appear in Beauty and the Beast. The setting was in a dreary castle with a mangy beast. The first recollection of material goods is at the end of the movie when they are dancing in the ballroom, in their formal dress.

Although Cinderella and Belle have many similarities throughout the simple watching of the movie, they are very different in the Marxism lens. Where Cinderella focuses on moving up in her status, Belle is comfortable in her status. Cinderella focuses heavily on lush material objects to gain her prince, while Belle focuses on getting out of the castle. The switching of roles can be seen in both stories though. The Beast and Belles change of roles can be related to how Cinderella became a princess. Cinderella used to be the victim of her sisters, but as soon as she became a person of power, they bowed down to her, and she became the oppressor (although Cinderella did not use this power to gain revenge). Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, although written for similar purposes, are very different in the Marxist lens.