Disney #6: Belle and books

 Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite Disney movies! Belle is actually my fave Disney princess. My other favorite Disney princess would have to be Mulan! I love reading and so does Belle!

Belle was often thought to be weird because she read books. This movie takes place many years ago in the past. It is not just the fact that she is reading. It is also because she is a woman reading books. Remember, women couldn't vote until recently. (recently as in our grandparents/ great grandparents time). But also, Belle had big city dreams in a small town. She was thought to be peculiar because she had big ideas and the townsfolk just did mundane things from day to day. Belle was bored! But not just bored, she wanted to see the world! She loved to learn!

I've always loved reading. That one scene where Beast gives Belle access to the library sent my spirits aflame with love. That is what I always aspired, to have lots of books. I have lots of books now, not as much as the Beast, but Belle's awe and my awe of that grand library in the Beast's palace is one and the same.

Belle loved books. She wanted to have grand adventures just like the ones she read about. She lived in a rural town and rural towns do not always have a lot going on in them, at least on a spectacular level. Rural towns are about traditional values and they sometimes poo poo on having big, new ideas. Belle was the daughter of an inventor. He was also seen as being crazy and kooky, just because he was different and had big, new ideas. The town mocked those who were different. Different isn't always bad you know!

There's a scene in the movie where Gaston puts down Belle for reading and getting ideas. He may be handsome and popular, but he is brawn and Belle is both beauty and brains. He doesn't think women should be reading. Reading is challenging the status quo of the town, even bigger towns, maybe, given the time period.

curlyalicia