Beauty and the Beast

Compare the commentary Barbot De Villeneuve makes on 1740s society to societal norms today. Do you think society has achieved the ideals she promoted in Beauty and the Beast? Why or why not? If not, what changes remain incomplete, and how might society achieve them? If society has reached Barbot De Villeneuve’s ideal, what might be the next challenge for society to tackle, and could lessons from Beauty and the Beast help with this challenge? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.

Given that the story is a tale of ideals for women, what did you expect from Beauty’s character, and was she what you expected? Why or why not? If so, what parts of her personality made her true to your expectations, and why those parts? If not, what did you expect from her, and how might her character have differed to more accurately reflect who you expected her to be?

In Chapter 7, the prince reveals that the fairy made him invisible as the Beast so that he could watch Beauty. What message about courting and relationships do you think Barbot De Villeneuve meant to convey by having the prince do this? Do you think this action is appropriate or necessary for the prince’s situation? Why or why not?

Do you think Beauty was manipulated into marrying the prince? Why or why not? If so, what devices were used to manipulate her? If not, which of Beauty’s actions make it clear that she decided to wed the prince of her own free will? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.

Did you find Beauty’s love for the prince and gratitude for the Beast believable and genuine? Why or why not? If so, what moments in the novel make her emotions feel real? If not, what elements of the story keep you from believing her emotions could be true, and how would you change the story to make Beauty’s feelings come across as real?

Beauty’s sisters experience no character growth by the end of the novel. Why do you think Barbot De Villeneuve chose for them to remain the same? What messages about greed and jealousy is Barbot De Villeneuve sending through the sisters? Do you agree with these messages? Why or why not?

Choose either the fairy who cursed the prince or the fairy who imprisoned Beauty’s mother, and summarize how the events of Chapters 7 or 8 would differ if told from that character’s perspective. Why do you think the story would have differed in this way? Cite elements from the existing story to support your retelling.

Is the ring the Beast gives Beauty to journey home a form of imprisonment? Why or why not? If so, how does it keep Beauty trapped within the Beast’s world? If not, what else might the ring represent, and how does it represent that idea?