Disney remains the powerhouse for fairytale stories, but it took 34 years to realize Gaston is not the real villain of Beauty and the Beast. You could argue that the multiple antagonists in Disney’s motion pictures are just one element of Beauty and the Beast that doesn’t make sense, but they definitely help create a compelling story and a captivating romance. Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, Beauty and the Beast was released in 1991. Despite the limited details provided about him, including the Prince having no name in Beauty and the Beast, the Beast remains one of the strongest members of Disney movie royalty.
The story hinges on Belle’s decision to give up her freedom to save her father, whom the Beast has imprisoned. With that in mind, the Prince in Beauty and the Beast endured some of the most severe consequences seen in any Disney animated film, all at the hands of a single individual. Although she has a far bigger role in Disney’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, the Enchantress’s actions have far greater consequences than those of any other character, strongly suggesting the Enchantress’ role in the original movie is significantly more crucial than initially perceived.
Why The Enchantress Is The Real Villain Of Beauty & the Beast
The Enchantress’ Actions Are Far Worse Than You Imagine In Beauty & the Beast
On closer examination, the Enchantress is undoubtedly the true villain of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. The enchantress’s curse, which banished the Prince to a lonely life in the tower, was her most devastating act. Her justification for cursing the price seems excessively harsh for the simple act of refusing her refuge in the tower. Not to mention, the Enchantress’ punishment extends to the innocent individuals who had no part in the Prince’s rude demeanor, resulting in his entire household staff being transformed into inanimate objects. It’s one thing to unfairly target someone, but extending that harm to those with no connection is a truly villainous act.
|
Movie |
Year |
Worldwide Box Office |
Rotten Tomato Critic Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Beauty and the Beast |
1991 |
$451,291,298 |
95% |
|
Beauty and the Beast |
2017 |
$1.263 billion |
71% |
The conditions of the curse seemed to be designed to be intentionally difficult, too. The beast must find true love before the last petal falls on the enchanted rose, and given the Beast’s appearance and isolation, the possibility of this occurring in a timely manner is notably slim. Considering how young the Prince was, the enchantress’s punishment becomes particularly cruel. At just 10 or 11, the Enchantress’s actions effectively erased the Prince’s childhood, denying him any chance of natural growth. Given the Prince would likely have outgrown his selfishness with age and experience, the Enchantress’s drastic intervention was truly evil.
Arguably, the conclusion of Beauty and the Beast definitively cements the Enchantress as the villain. The character lacks any accountability for her actions, and doesn’t even appear in the final act when her curse is reversed. The Enchantress inflicted immense suffering on the Prince and his staff without showing any remorse or facing any genuine repercussions. Although she seeks to teach the Prince a lesson about inner beauty, the severity and scope of her curse is incredibly vengeful. Her evil has a lasting impact that extends far beyond the film’s ending, overshadowing any of Gaston’s actions within the story.
There Is Debate Over Gaston’s Status As Beauty & the Beast’s Main Villain
Gaston Could Have Had Good Intentions But Executed Them Badly
There is one theory that Gaston is a hero in Beauty and the Beast. While I’m not necessarily convinced by this idea, it does begin to make sense once the theory is broken down. Gaston, who resides in the same town as Belle, continues his desperate efforts to marry her even though she consistently turns him down. However, when he learns about the Beast imprisoning the girl “he’s always been in love with,” he leads the village to the castle to save Belle, as well as the whole town. It’s important to remember that Gaston doesn’t realize the Beast isn’t a genuine threat.
According to this theory, Gaston’s underlying purpose and intentions are sound, but his actions, atтιтude, and the way he goes about things are not consistent with them. Arguably, this is out of his control. His actions are somewhat noble, as Gaston does disregard his own personal safety to save Belle after she was kidnapped by the Beast, which is a rather selfless act within itself. Aside from this, Gaston is adored by the villagers, so the widespread affection from every individual in town implies he must have a history of commendable actions before the events of Beauty and the Beast.
Gaston Is Still Awful In Beauty & the Beast, But So Is The Enchantress
The Enchantress’ Actions Were Far More Damaging
Needless to say, having good intentions does not excuse Gaston’s untoward behavior towards Belle, and certainly doesn’t earn him the тιтle of a hero. Even if we were to believe he acted in good faith, there’s an overwhelming amount of evidence stacking against Gaston’s underlying nature. For instance, Gaston used bribery to manipulate the warden of the town’s asylum into having Maurice, Belle’s father, declared insane and locked away. In this case, the ends certainly do not justify the means. Gaston has still been widely accepted as the villain of Disney’s fairytale since its release in 1991.
In actuality, the Enchantress is the orchestrator of the events in Beauty and the Beast, given that she inflicted the drastic punishment on the Beast in the first place.
While Gaston is undeniably terrible in Beauty and the Beast, the Enchantress is ultimately significantly worse. An argument can be made that Gaston is simply a product of the scenario created by the Enchantress’s initial actions, making his villainy a secondary consequence of her curse. In actuality, the Enchantress is the orchestrator of the events in Beauty and the Beast, given that she inflicted the drastic punishment on the Beast in the first place. This makes a strong case for The Enchantress as the true villain of the story, and it is a crucial point that shouldn’t be overlooked when considering Gaston’s negative actions.
Of course, Gaston’s more overt actions often steal the spotlight, but the Enchantress becomes a greater villain in Disney’s live-action remake from 2017. There are numerous changes between the Beauty and the Beast remake and the original animation, and perhaps the most significant is the role of the Enchantress. In the original movie, her role is rather minuscule and does not appear throughout the film’s length, but the Enchantress has a recurring presence in the live-action movie. This constant presence might make her feel more deliberately involved and perhaps even manipulative in Beauty and the Beast.
