Beauty and the Beast
Once upon a time, in a small village in France, there lived a kind and intelligent young woman named Belle. She was known for her love of books and her adventurous spirit, which set her apart from the other villagers, who found her peculiar. Belle lived with her father, Maurice, an eccentric inventor who often traveled to nearby towns to showcase his creations. Though they were not wealthy, Belle and her father were happy and deeply cared for one another.
One day, Maurice set off for a nearby town to present his latest invention at a fair. Along the way, he became lost in a dark and eerie forest. As he wandered, he stumbled upon a grand, mysterious castle. Seeking shelter, he entered and was astonished to find the castle seemingly deserted but filled with warmth and luxury. A lavish feast was laid out on the table, and though no one was in sight, Maurice felt as though he were being watched.
After eating, Maurice explored the castle and plucked a single rose from the garden to bring home to Belle. Suddenly, a fearsome Beast appeared, roaring in anger. “I gave you food and shelter, and you repay me by stealing my roses?” the Beast bellowed. Maurice begged for forgiveness, but the Beast declared that he must remain imprisoned in the castle forever as punishment.
Meanwhile, Belle grew worried when her father did not return. She set out to find him and eventually arrived at the Beast’s castle. There, she discovered her father locked in a dungeon. Desperate to save him, Belle offered to take his place as the Beast’s prisoner. To her surprise, the Beast agreed, releasing Maurice but warning Belle that she must stay in the castle forever.
At first, Belle was terrified of the Beast. He was gruff and intimidating, and his temper flared easily. However, as days turned into weeks, Belle began to see glimpses of kindness beneath his rough exterior. The castle’s enchanted servants—a talking teapot named Mrs. Potts, a candelabra named Lumière, a clock named Cogsworth, and others—encouraged Belle to look beyond the Beast’s appearance and get to know the person inside.
The Beast, too, began to change. He was captivated by Belle’s intelligence, kindness, and courage. He gave her the freedom to explore the castle and even gifted her an enormous library filled with books. Slowly, Belle and the Beast grew closer, sharing meals and conversations. The Beast learned to control his temper, and Belle discovered the gentleness and vulnerability hidden within him.
One evening, after a magical dance in the castle’s grand ballroom, the Beast asked Belle if she was happy. She admitted that she missed her father dearly. The Beast, though heartbroken at the thought of losing her, allowed Belle to return home to visit Maurice. He gave her an enchanted mirror that would allow her to see him and a magic ring that would bring her back to the castle whenever she wished.
When Belle returned to her village, she found her father gravely ill. A man named Gaston, the village’s arrogant and self-centered hunter, had been pursuing Belle for years, determined to marry her despite her repeated rejections. When Belle refused him once more, Gaston discovered the Beast’s existence through Maurice and rallied the villagers to storm the castle and kill the Beast.
Belle used the enchanted mirror to see that the castle was under attack. She rushed back, using the magic ring to return just in time. She found the Beast wounded and near death after a fierce battle with Gaston. As Belle wept over him, she confessed her love. Her words broke the curse that had been placed on the Beast and his castle many years before.
Long ago, the Beast had been a selfish and unkind prince. An enchantress, disguised as an old beggar woman, had tested him by asking for shelter from the cold. When he cruelly turned her away, she revealed her true form and cursed him to live as a beast unless he could learn to love and earn someone’s love in return before the last petal of an enchanted rose fell. The castle’s servants, too, had been transformed into household objects as part of the curse.
With Belle’s love, the curse was broken. The Beast transformed back into the prince he once was, and the castle’s servants regained their human forms. Belle and the prince were married in a joyous celebration, and they lived happily ever after, ruling the kingdom with kindness and compassion.
