Disney’s Beauty and the Beast could have been a far darker tale if one change had been made to one of its main characters. The animated feature is one of the 10 movies of Disney’s Renaissance era, and still frequently ranks as one of Disney’s best animated movies. Even in 2025, it remains the only non-Pixar Disney animated movie to be nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award. The live-action remake in 2017 changed many of the animation’s key plot devices, which serves as a reminder that Beauty and the Beast‘s original story could have easily taken a different turn.

Even with its darker elements, Beauty and the Beast balances this tone with its family-friendly nature. Still, there are plenty of harsh realities in Beauty and the Beast that don’t hold up well today. Beyond the Enchantress’ curse on the Prince as a child, and Belle’s kidnapping by the Beast, Gaston stands out as a significantly more obviously problematic character in the film. He is far more malicious than it seems on the surface and, with this in mind, the film’s entire narrative could have been vastly different if Gaston had followed a different path.

Gaston Could Have Easily Been The Beast Of Beauty & the Beast

Gaston Is A Representation Of Who The Beast Could Have Become

The idea that Gaston could have been the Beast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is not a completely new fan theory, but it nonetheless opens up several intriguing possibilities. In actuality, the Enchantress targeting Gaston rather than the Prince is not all that far-fetched. It would have been more logical for the overarching villain of Beauty and the Beast to attempt to find shelter at the tavern, rather than the castle. If this were the case, Gaston would likely have turned the Enchantress away too — which would have resulted in him becoming the Beast.

Although it’s unclear why Beauty and the Beast‘s villain targeted a 10-year-old Prince, the Enchantress likely wanted to punish someone who had a substantial influence over the townspeople. That being said, the village seems to have also fallen under her curse, in the sense that they all seemingly forgot about the Prince and his staff who live in the castle. Gaston’s command over people ended up being far more dangerous than the Prince’s as the events of Beauty and the Beast play out, anyway. Gaston’s egocentric traits, potentially developing from a young age, would have made him a much better fit for the curse.

Above all else, the tale of Beauty and the Beast presents many parallels between the Beast before his curse and Gaston. Of course, their paths ultimately diverge early on, but both characters represent the adverse traits of pride and arrogance. Gaston is incredibly arrogant and uses his physicality to gain favor from the majority of the village. He also genuinely believes he’s superior to others. He is a reflection of what the Prince could have become without the Enchantress’ curse, making it rather easy to see how Gaston could have been the Beast of Beauty and the Beast.

Gaston’s Experience As The Beast Would’ve Been Very Different

Gaston Would Have Been Far Worse Off Than The Beast

The Beast does have a conscience from the beginning of the film, which can be seen when Belle is locked in his tower, and he often appears concerned about her feeling uneasy. The Beast shows us that focusing on improving will lead to morally good people. However, Gaston has no conscience and does not concern himself with anyone other than himself. More often than not, Gaston lacks the self-awareness of how his actions affect others and never takes responsibility. Even in his pursuit of Belle’s affection, Gaston is forceful.

Gaston is the ideal demonstration that, despite our downfalls, we will ultimately still turn out as bad people if we never make the effort to self-improve. It could be the case that Gaston would not have been morally redeemed on account of these conditions alone if he were the Beast. In many respects, Gaston embodied the characteristics of the Beast far more than the Beast himself. In fact, Gaston could not even save himself from a far worse fate at the end of Beauty and the Beast, proving his experience as the Beast would have been very different.

All that is to say, Gaston would likely have never been redeemed in Beauty and the Beast, or have done enough to earn Belle’s love. The reason the Prince is able to change under the curse is because of the people around him and the support they offer him. This support system does not come freely, but it was earned through genuine effort and kindness. Gaston only has sycophants who do not truly care about him or respect him in the slightest. Often, these individuals act out of obligation or fear, preventing Gaston from having a chance to change.

The Beauty & the Beast’s Prince Wouldn’t Have Become A Better Person

The Prince May Not Have Changed Without The Experience

Needless to say, there’s no justification for the incredibly unfair curse on a young child at the hands of the Enchantress — but it did teach the Prince a valuable life lesson. For all intents and purposes, the Prince may not have reconciled with his former self without becoming the Beast. Gaston was able to continue his life as a morally bankrupt individual before Belle told the townspeople of the Beast living in the castle. It’s likely that the Prince would not have relinquished the same way of life, had he not experienced what it was like to become the Beast of Beauty and the Beast.

In addition to this, there is a possibility that the Enchantress had further insight that impacted and guided her bleak decision. Although she only appears during the opening scene of Disney’s 1991 animated feature, the Enchantress may have known who would benefit from the curse and who would not. The Prince is selfish, but the Enchantress could have known it was superficial, and that he simply needed help discovering how he’s able to love underneath his arrogant exterior. If we’re to go by this theory, it makes sense that the Prince needed to become the Beast of the story in Beauty and the Beast.