डिज़्नी प्रिन्सेस Article: Why Belle Reads Fairytales

17

posted by hisblueeyes

The question, "Which princess do आप think is the smartest?" is asked very often and every time it is asked, there are those people who pick Belle. There are the people who not only pick Belle, but comment, "Because she reads." Then, there are the people who think that is a dumb thing to say, and begin immediately saying stuff like, "She only reads fairy-tales." Every time this process has been repeated I have wanted to say something like what I am about to say, but never got the chance. So now I'm going to say it.

I think many people forget that Beauty and the Beast is not set in 2011. It isn't set in the 1950's, either. It is set a long while back, before laptops and iPad's and cars. Before gigantic bookstores with every book genre and every book शीर्षक आप could possibly think of. Belle lives in a small, provincial town, and the only "library" is a little bookshop with maybe two या three shelves. There aren't any trucks that come into town every week, with stacks & stacks of the newest books. No, in Belle's library, the पुस्तकें in there are probably the only पुस्तकें that are in there for months at a time. At the time Belle was alive, there also probably wasn't a Harry Potter या a Great Expectations. The only पुस्तकें that were probably in that पुस्तकालय were fairy-tales. Not thin paperback fairy-tales with pictures, no, the thick, complicated, original versions of fairy-tales. Have आप ever read the original version of The Little Mermaid? It's not something just anyone can read.

Another thing I think people forget is that Belle was a dreamer, a dreamer who wanted to escape her boring town. पुस्तकें like Pride & Prejudice offer no escape. Fairy-tales? Now those are something. पढ़ना पुस्तकें like those, of far of places, dashing sword fights & a prince in disguise were possibly Belle's only स्रोत of comfort in that town she so wanted to leave. They offered her adventure that she couldn't have. If आप think that it is very childish of Belle to read such stories, put yourself in her place. Pretend that's all your पुस्तकालय had. Pretend आप need to flee where आप are, but आप can't, and unfortunately, Harry Potter doesn't exist yet. She also states that she's read all the पुस्तकें in

I'm going to end this लेख with the wise words of someone who has written a very fairy-tale like series himself:
Some day, आप will be old enough to start पढ़ना fairy-tales again. - C.S. Lewis

Portia0623, Sparklefairy375 and 15 others like this

Swanpride Good argument - What people also tend to forget: Belle read all the books available in her little town. I really doubt that all of them were fairy tales (I'm sure that there were some philosophical excurses between them at teh very least). Yes, she picks out books with stories - but what kind of book would you rather reread, the book with the stories, or the sience book? My reading interests are very diverse, but for a reread, I would chose a story book too. And which book would you read to a someone else? A story book, naturally. Plus, you learn a lot, even if you read just stories - for example, I have never been to sea, but I know most of the nautic words because I had a thing for pirate stories for a while. Not just the made up ones, but also the real ones, which descripe parts of a ship.

sumerjoy11 Wow, this is very good! I really can relate to this article. I live in a boring town and my only escape for me is either reading or drawing. Of course, most of the things I read or draw are Diney related. People call me immature just because I still like Disney and I'm 16, but Disney helps me not only to escape the ridicule and boringness, it also helps me to dream. I never really looked at Belle from this perspective before, until I read your article.

DreamyGal You make a good point, but I disagree with what you said about Pride and Prejudice offering no escape. That is one of my favorite novels; one of the main reasons I love it is because it takes me to a different place; a place where men were gentlemen and women were ladies...the language was proper and elegant...people actually bowed to each other whenever they met. And actually for the longest time I have thought that Belle and the Beasts relationship is very similar to Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.

hisblueeyes ^Oh, I love Pride and Prejudice too, it's one of my favorite books. I just thought it wouldn't offer Belle much escape, because it might make her feel like her town is even more provincial - reading about such elegant towns.

Swanpride I think Pride and Predudice wouldn't mean much to Belle, because it carricates a society, Belle knows next to nothing about. We can understand the "jokes" and the critizism in the book, because we have enough second source material to understand it, but I'm not sure if that would apply to Belle, too.

DreamyGal Well, we all have our opinions, I think Belle would've liked it...especially the romance.

princesslullaby ^I think Belle would've like it a lot too. I don't remember where in the movie it says Belle read every book in the library. I know she says "Have you got anything new?" But that doesn't mean she read every book on the shelf. Maybe only the ones that interested her ran out, so she's hoping for a new one. I know quite a few stupid people who read a lot, and I know quite a few smart people who rarely read. I'm not entirely sure Belle reading thick fairy-tales is a concrete argument that she's smart. And I really doubt Belle would read philosophical books, not that she's not smart enough, I don't see it particularly interesting to her. I understand why Belle reads fairy-tales, I never found it frivolous of her to do so. But I think when people comment saying "Belle is smart because she reads" it is a poor argument, but what aggravates me is when people say Belle is the SMARTEST princess because she reads. Throughout the movie, I find Belle to be an intelligent, capable person, but she doesn't do anything extraordinarily genius. She has a sensible set of smarts, but I don't find her to be the most clever or the smartest.

hisblueeyes ^I completely agree, I'm not saying she's the smartest, and I do think "because she reads" is a stupid argument. But I also think saying "she only reads fairytales" is a stupid thing to say when your trying to tell people Belle isn't the smartest one. That's what this article is about.

princesslullaby My guess is Belle does only read mainly fairy-tales, but the occasional other genre. But yeah, I don't see how reading fairy-tales would give an indication of intelligence either way.

KataraLover I love that Belle reads fairy-tales and it's one of the reasons I like her. But I just don't think that sayings she's the smartest just because she reads, fairy-tales aren't meant to be educational, they're meant to make us happy. I don't think she's that smart. But I do know how she feels, I like to read my fairy-tales and other books to escape the stupidity of my town.

MrsEmmaPeel I love your article. I agree 100% and this is how I feel about Belle as well. I'm glad to see someone written an article on it. Great job.

Swanpride @princesslullaby Believe me, when you're addicted to books you will read anything you get your hands on. Since Belle doesn't has the luxury we have, she can't afford to be choosy. But yeah, I don't think that she is necessarily the smartest - there is first Mulan (who seems to be some sort of genius at times), then Rapunzel (who seems to be multitalented) and then Belle - but not because she happens to read (though it does play a part in it), but because she outsmarts Gaston (admittingly an easy thing to do), Cogsworth and Lumiere, and has the ability to beat the beast with words quite easily.

princesslullaby I don't think Rapunzel is all that smart, she makes a lot of dumb decisions. But, it depends on what kind of smart you think is the smartest. And I still think Jasmine is very smart, although lately I've knocked her down to #2 for a couple of less-than-smart things.

Swanpride I don't think that Rapunzel makes dumb decision, not when you consider the information she bases the decision on. It's easy to say that you would know better when you see the whole picture, but the question is, would you be as smart as she is in her situation? First outwitting Eugene (who isn't stupid himself), forcing him to bring her to the lights, and later figuring out Mother Gothel on her own? The only dumb thing she does is not keeping an eye on her, but that's the woman she has known as her loving mother her whole life. But I'm also impressed that she studied astronomy and chartered stars on her own. Jasmine on the other hand - well, she says that she is a fast learner, but if that's true, how did she manage to walk across the market without picking up on the simple concept of "you have to pay for what you take"? Why doesn't she pick up on the fact that it's nearly impossible that Aladdin was already killed when she reaches Jafar, and totally impossible that he was killed for kidnapping her, since nobody know that she even was with him? (and why doesn't she stay close to him to make sure that he is okay?) Why doesn't she notice Jafar hypnotising her father - Aladdin picks up on it nearly immediatly. For someone as cunning as her, she isn't perceptive at all!(And face-blind, but that seems to be some sort of desease in that movie).

ivebeendreaming I agree 100% with this article. I actually only read fairytales. It truly is an escape from everyday life. And I think I live in a pretty boring town. There's nothing magical about it. I miss living in New Jersey where there were big romantic victorian houses everywhere and real trees. Now I live in Arizona in the middle of the desert. There's no snow, no magic, and I don't really like any of the guys here. Everything is stereotypical and a year behind in fashion. Everyone acts the same (within their social groups) so there's no creativity. In fact, a lot of people are pretty judgmental when it comes to differences. Most people wear Abercrombie and Hollister tops with jeans and Vans or Toms every day. Even the Emos and Scenes are all exactly the same. I remember on the first day of 8th grade a few years ago I dressed up. And when I say "dressed up" I was wearing a babydoll style top with a skirt and leggings. The few friends I had at the time asked me why I was so dressed up. At least I'm a little different. But I feel like Belle most of the time. I have friends but most of them are like everyone else.

princesslullaby ^SEE? NEW JERSEY IS A MAGICAL, WONDERFUL LAND <3

hisblueeyes ^...I never said it was bad.

princesslullaby ^....I never said that you said that...??

heathersvan I agree with you that Belle's reading was the only place she could escape to her dreams, but I don't think that makes her any smarter. Nice article, though! Lot's of thought put it.

heathersvan @ivebeendreaming: YES! New Jersey is amazing! I love it around here ^_^

pretty_angel92 you have a good point, i read tons of fairytales and i actually consider myself a smart person. i just find it stupid how people's explanation is always "oh, she reads". that doesn't mean anything. i know a lot of people who likes to read but they're still pretty dumb. and it's frustrating to see belle always winning these kind of picks(with the exception of mulan), when rapunzel doesn't and she also reads. so what's the explanation now? simple, most of them are just being biased. i'm not saying that rapunzel makes smarter decisions, but she certainly seems to know more about general culture. she reads about botany, geology, math...

PrincessAyeka12 100% Agree with you! Reading this made me realise I'm so much like Belle.

magicfairydust Love this article! and yes, you make a very good point. :D

FlightofFantasy Good article! I never understand why adults who read fairy tales are looked down upon. I love fairy tales, always have. They are what got me into reading, into fantasy, into mythology. They were the first books I was able to read on my own, without help. Basically, they helped shape who I am. I'm now in my 20s and am a proud, unabashed fairy tale fan. I'm a fan of the "original" fairy tales (although it's basically impossible to say what the original version of any folk tale is) and of Disney's fairy tales, and I always will be. Is it a form of escapism? Yes. So is any fiction. There's nothing wrong with that. And yet adults who still love fairy tales are treated as if they're naive, or idiots, or children. I've found you actually get a lot more out of fairy tales when you revisit them as an adult. You pick up on things you never did as a child. Some might be negative (sexism, racism, etc.), but even that presents a fascinating opportunity to learn about the culture and society of the time. After all, fairy tales are really mirrors that reflect the cultural attitudes of their time. That's why they change over time, because societal attitudes change over time. What was once acceptable is now unacceptable. What was once unacceptable is now acceptable. Fairy tales are not only beautiful and magical, they are also a great learning experience and a way to introduce you to different cultures, peoples and historical periods. There's nothing childish or immature about that.

2

डिज़्नी Princesses

added by PrincessFairy

Source: डिज़्नी

2

Elsa

added by JaDangerz

Source: डिज़्नी

1

Rapunzel

added by PrincessFairy

Source: https://www.instagram.com/giucchi

डिज़्नी "PRINCESS" RANKING

posted by Likerodeo

Everyone has their personal ranking of their प्रिय डिज़्नी Princessess n thoughts of who should b included. In my eyes, this is the ranking of the maidens from the house of mouse:

15. Aurora, indeed the sleeping beauty is beautiful, elegant, n has a heavenly opera voice, unfortunately she has little agency in her own story n personality.

14. Anna, a spunky n cute go getter but most of the other princesses that have come before her have these traits checked off too.

13. Moana, a real cookie cutter of a modern डिज़्नी princess, she is pretty much just an ethnic variation of Anna but is ahead one...

चमेली Makeup Tutorial

added by Zukos_bride

2

An Assortment of Thoughts on Pocahontas (Film)

posted by ApplesauceDoctr

Pocahontas is one of those डिज़्नी films that, despite being middle-of-the-road for me, I have to rewatch fairly often. Something about this movie intrigues me. Maybe it's because I want to like the movie और than I currently do and understand why some प्रशंसकों revere it. I might not be there quite yet after this most हाल का rewatch, but I'm narrowing in on what specific things I like and dislike about the film. Now's the time to share those thoughts.

Praises
1) The backgrounds in this movie aren't just beautiful. THEY'RE GORGEOUS. The subtle lines, the designs, and especially the rich रंग are...

Rant: Lindsay Ellis, Modern डिज़्नी and the internet

posted by JNTA1234

I don't really like Lindsay Ellis at all but I never thought I'd see the दिन where I agree with her on something and she'd have a video that perfectly sums up my issues with डिज़्नी in हाल का years.

I was watching her Beauty and the Beast 2017 review and she was basically complaining about how years of whiny, nitpicky nobodies on the internet like आप and me going on and on about "stereotype" this and "problematic" that regarding डिज़्नी फिल्में has pretty much resulted in the hot नितंब, गधा messes modern डिज़्नी films are today. How the BatB remake is a terrible adaptation of the OG film and it's contribution...

My Redesign of Merida

added by KataraLover

3

Informal Review of Tangled: The Series (Up to Season 2 Episode 10)

posted by ApplesauceDoctr

Tangled: The Series, now called Rapunzel's टैंगल्ड Adventure, premiered in March 2017 with the pilot movie, Tangled: Before Ever After (hopefully that sentence wasn't too confusing!). The film sees Rapunzel adjusting to life in Corona and introduces several concepts that the rest of the series will explore: Rapunzel's golden hair growing back, the growth of magical spiky rocks that can devastate Corona, foes with a thirst for revenge, Rapunzel and Eugene's marriage, and Rapunzel learning how to become a good queen.

At first, I was surprised that Tangled was getting a TV show. Even though I quite...

-1

New Ralph Breaks th Internet Princesses image

added by Sparklefairy375

Source: डिज़्नी

The Little Mermaid Serpent-Teen Part 1 Page 16

added by KataraLover

Pocket Princesses - चमेली

added by tiffany88

Source: Amy Mebberson

1

डिज़्नी प्रिन्सेस

added by LunaNoctis

1

Princesses hanging out

added by BB2010

Liu Yifei as मूलन Promotion

added by KataraLover

Source: colorwebmag.com

The डिज़्नी Princesses with Vanellope

added by Sparklefairy375

Source: डिज़्नी

-1

6 Princesses with the Logo

added by gitanita

Source: Mine

डिज़्नी Princess Protest Signs

added by wavesurf

Source: Amanda Allen Niday Copyrighted

Historically Accurate DPs : Classic Era

posted by Lavendergolden

The three classic princesses

Okay, I am लेखन an लेख after a long time. I suffered from the lack of ideas and imagination for और than 12 days ago. So, I am not in a mood to start a new series, either, Damn! So, I decided to do one short article, duh! Sorry, I am gonna do a series! I mean, duh, some princesses were horribly out of place. I mean, we think every princess is beautiful, but some are a little historically inaccurate and drawn in a wrong way.

Snow White

Snow White

It is kinda easy to figure out where this classic took place. The dwarfs’ house is decorated with carved wooden instruments and furniture....

6

Snow White's Princess सूची

posted by princesslullaby

Thanks for tuning in to the सेकंड लेख of the series, Snow White's प्रिय princess list. If आप haven't already, please go read link.
6 years पूर्व I did these लेखाए as well, so आप are welcome to go check out my old opinion on Snow White's rankings link.
Disclaimer: None of us will ever know truly what Snow White's प्रिय princess सूची would be. However, being on फैन्पॉप for 9 years, I find myself heavily invest in डिज़्नी Princesses and I did my best to parse out how I think Snow White would rank the princesses. She's an interesting one to dissect since I think she would प्यार all the...