12/09/2106

Once upon a time, an Enchantress turned a handsome prince into a terrible beast when she discovered his selfishness. She left behind an enchanted rose. If the prince did not find true love before the last rose petal fell, he would remain a beast forever.

In a village nearby, Belle lived with her father. More than anything, Belle wanted an adventure like those she read about in her beloved books. Gaston wanted to marry Belle, but she refused. Belle thought he was a beastly bore, and Gaston didn't understand why she was always reading. "It's not right for a woman to read," he said. Belle's father, Maurice, was an inventor. His latest invention was an automatic woodchopper, which he was taking to a contest at the county fair. "You'll win first prize!" Belle declared. 

On his way to the fair, Maurice got lost in the woods. A pack of wolves chased him to the gates of a nearby castle. Not sure what he would find inside, Maurice entered the castle grounds cautiously. Maurice could never have imagined the hideous beast that confronted him. Thinking Maurice had come to stare at him, the Beast was furious. Without mercy, he locked this unwanted visitor in the dungeon. 

When her father's horse came home alone, Belle went in search of her father and found him locked up. Belle begged the Beast for Maurice's freedom. "Take me instead," she offered. The Beast agreed, making her promise to stay in the castle forever!

On her first night, Belle met the castle servants. The spell cast by the Enchantress had turned them into enchanted objects! They were funny, friendly, and treated Belle like a special guest. At dinnertime, Belle refused the Beast's invitation to join him, which made him roar with frustration. He was anxious to end the spell - and felt Belle was a sign of hope. Mrs. Potts, the teapot, and Lumiere, the candelabrum, told him to be patient and, above all, kind. Later that night, Belle came upon the magic rose the Enchantress had left behind. As Belle reached out to touch it, the Beast appeared and grabbed the precious rose. "Get out!" he yelled.

Belle fled the castle on her horse but was attacked by the same wolves that had chased her father. Risking his life, the Beast saved Belle. In the days that followed, Belle began to see the goodness in the Beast.

One evening, the Beast again invited Belle to dinner. This time she accepted. After dinner, the Beast asked Belle to dance. As they whirled around the ballroom, the Beast realized he was in love with Belle. Because of his love, the Beast let Belle return home to see her father.

When Gaston heard her speak fondly of the Beast, he grew jealous and stormed the castle. Gaston stabbed the Beast and then was accidentally knocked off the roof.

Belle pulled the Beast to safety. "Please don't leave me," she sobbed. "I love you." As she spoke, the last rose petal fell. Then a shower of sparks filled the air. The Beast began to transform...

...into a handsome prince!

The enchanted objects were filled with joy as they too turned back into humans and watched their prince and Belle fall in love anew.

http://princess.disney.com/belles-story

This story is a short version of the story I saw once. So many details are missing...
I was still a child... perhaps 10 years old? Can't remember...
Read it today, after so many years, and made me cry. I cried indeed!
This story is amazing in part because is full of symbolism. From all the fairy tales I know, I guess I can say this is my favourite. I will try to "explain" so you can see the story through my eyes and probably you will see it as a unique and beautiful story, with the ability to change the world (if people allow). So, forget a little bit the real world and be welcome to my "world".

a) Selfishness is a terrible beast. Only love can defeat it.

b) Belle refused to marry Gaston because she didn't love him and I don't think Gaston loved her. When we love we don't find them boring and want to see them happy. To read made Belle happy!

c) Belle's father has an important role here too; he shows us that we must not stop creating and dreaming or should I say dreaming first and then creating?! He had all Belle's support! Support is so important...

d) The wolves and the dungeon symbolize the problems... there is no life without them...

e)When Belle offers herself instead of her father is showing us that love always speaks higher. Always! So we freely make choices to see them well and happy. They matter more than us.

f) The enchanted objects might symbolize our friends and all those and everything that makes our day brighter.

g) Belle's refusal means that nobody likes to be around rude people and teach us that we must be patient and kind.

h) Now you'll laugh, but when Belle fled the castle on her horse and was attacked by the same wolves that had chased her father might be a clear sign of destiny. Something that had to happen so the beast could reveal his real nature... and could touch Belle's heart!

i) Belle accepted the invitation because she saw goodness in him. We attract what we are, I guess. And notice this; if before Belle couldn't leave the castle, now that the beast was in love with her, he let Belle return home to see her father (who was sick). Love is freedom... For both!

j) Gaston's attack symbolizes the fear of losing someone we love and demonstrates that in bad moments, love gets stronger, never weaker!
When the transformation happens, the prince means one’s rebirth... Only the path of love can do that!

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Can you see why I love fairy tales so much? They have everything that lacks in the real world...
People think that love is when they meet someone like them. It might be, it might be not! They put their lives in the hand of software that will tell them if they are compatible or not. They choose people based on their photos, their information... Wow... scary!
Now is fashion... okay!

Will finish this testament saying this:
Love happens naturally; your inner compass will guide you and feel when the right person has come. Most of times it happens when you are not expecting...
The virtual world cannot give you that and to choose people based on the information they give you is cold. People are much more than what you see... you have to feel them! And when you feel them, something magical happens. Love happens! It's no longer your mind guiding you, it's your heart. Love is not rational; it transcends everything! At least in my world, because in this world everything is working in reverse. Like in wonderland...
But I am not Alice, nevertheless I could be called Belle. I truly believe in everything about this fairy tale; it could be my photo, oh yeah it could be...

P.S.- I don't have to say the beast symbolizes all the character defects one has, do I? The beast turned into a prince because he dropped selfishness... and so, Belle fell in love with him. Love is the reason why all other motives don't matter... Love is bigger than anything, if that makes any sense to you! And if it doesn't, one day it will make sense... oh, it will.