Beauty and the Beast Today by Irene Skandalakis

The Little Girl and the Wolf (1939) by James Thurber

iskandal — 2023-11-20 01:53:14 UTC

James Thurber wrote a version of Little Red Riding Hood that ends like: "She had approached no nearer than twenty-five feet from the bed when she saw that it was not her grandmother but the wolf... So the little girl took an automatic out of her basket and shot the wolf dead."

Analysis:

iskandal — 2023-11-20 02:01:40 UTC

This retelling can be interpreted as lacking the 'intuitive logic' that Kate Bernheimer discussed. Bernheimer explains this as, "The language of traditional fairy tales tells us that first this happened, then that happened. There is never an explanation of why. In fact, the question of why does not often arise.” (68)

Thurber writes the story so that the plot isn't furthered by a little girl not recognizing a wolf in disguise as her grandmother - many readers may question how such a misunderstanding would happen, yet it is not questioned in most versions of Little Red Riding hood.

My Take:

iskandal — 2023-11-20 02:11:35 UTC

I think that there is a heavy presence of 'intuitive logic' in Beauty and the Beast in regards to the process of Belle falling for the Beast. While there is a greater moral and lesson that encapsulates varied meanings from what defines love, to the importance, or not, of appearances, and other larger messages. While this pushes the plot of the narrative forward, the audience is able to question Belle's benevolence as she is able to see past the Beast who, in many versions, threatens to kill her father.

Change/Update:

iskandal — 2023-11-20 02:14:36 UTC

I would like to write a version of Beauty and the Beast where Belle is not so forgiving of the Beast. While different retellings may portray the Beast as kinder and with faults only in his communication, I do think that there are still major questions with her choice to marry him. I would love to explore creating a version where she is not so forgiving and instead does not give the Beast the happy ending and transformation he often gets.

CHANGE 1

iskandal — 2023-11-20 02:17:30 UTC

Different Ending: Beauty and the beast do NOT get happily married in the end

CHANGE 2:

iskandal — 2023-11-20 02:21:12 UTC

One of the retellings - “The Tale of the Rose” by Emma Donoghue - she promised to return after 8 days and even as she stays away for longer, she feels remorseful and returns to the beast. WHAT IF Belle instead took advantage of the beast letting her go and she leaves and does not think twice about returning, after all she was not completely there willingly.