Beauty and the Beast is a fairy tale about a young girl who fell in love with a beast. Jeanne-Marie Leprince De Beaumont’s version is about the birth of love and the ability of love to the way people look at others. The moral of the tale is that beauty comes from the heart of the people in love. However, Bruno Bettelheim had controversial beliefs about the effects of fairy tales on children. Bettelheim advocated that it was necessary for children to read fairy tales at their young age. He believes that fairy tales are so valuable because they give children the chance to learn about their personality and identity. Specifically, Bettelheim claims that fairy tales allow children to find themselves and find the other person with whom they will live happily after. His assertion is shown in Beaumont’s Beauty and the Beast through the characters of Beauty and Beast. This paper discusses how the story exemplifies Bruno Bettelheim’s assertions that fairy tales give children the chance to learn about their personality and identity and allows them to choose the person they can live happily with.

At the beginning of the story, Beauty is unhappy in their home due to her sisters’ resentments regarding the loss of their former house. She learns that it is best to help her father who has lost his fortune. Beauty’s father loses his fortune, and therefore they have to move to a smaller house. Beauty’s sisters keep on grieving the loss of the riches. Beauty, on the other hand, keeps her sadness to herself to avoid nagging her father. Surprisingly, her father finds out that there is a chance for him to get his wealth back when one of the ships get back. Beauty’s sisters demand a lot of gifts from their father as he starts his journey to win back his wealth. However, Beauty does not ask for anything considering their current state. She wants her father to come back home safe. Through Beauty’s actions, children can learn about their personality and make the best choices for themselves.

Furthermore, the Beast’s experience with Beauty’s father allows children to make the right choices and learn about their identity. Beauty’s father gets lost on his way back and begins wandering in the castle. While walking, he discovers some roses in the castle and decides to pick one for his daughter, Beauty. The Beast catches him picking the flowers, and he gets frightened. Beauty’s father for his life and tells the Beast that the flowers are his daughter’s. The Beast shows mercy to Beauty’s father and lets him go on the condition that he will allow one of his daughters to come to the castle. Through his actions, the Beast shows that people can have goodwill despite the nature they are associated with.

Moreover, the fairy tale teaches children that they can choose someone with whom they can live happily. Beauty learns that she can live happily with the beast and decides to stay with him. Although Beauty’s father does not want to tell her the encounter with the Beast, Beauty learns about the incidence on her own. She then decides to leave for the castle. Beauty lives a pleasant life in the castle in her private room. The Beast does not appear but only speaks while he is hiding. However, they grow fond of each other and Beauty enjoys the Beast’s company although she has not seen him yet. The Beast shows himself to Beauty and scares her away. However, she wants to continue seeing him. Therefore, Beauty continues to meet with the Beast and they fall in love.

Due to her love for the Beast, Beauty changes the way she sees him. While taking care of his father, Beauty dreams that Beast is sick. She, therefore, leaves her father and goes to the castle. Beast is lying on the bed. Since Beauty does not want the Beast to die, she tells him that she would marry him. The beast disappears, and a beautiful prince takes his place. The Beast reveals that a fairy enchanted him. The spell could only be broken by a girl falling in love with him. After Beauty’s father recovers, they marry in a beautiful wedding and live happily after getting married. Beauty changes her perception of the Beast since she loves him. She now sees the Beast as a handsome prince. Beauty’s change conforms to Bettelheim’s assertion that fairy tales change the way people view others due to love. Beauty chose to live with the Beast because they could live happily together.

In conclusion, the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast exemplifies Bettelheim’s assertions that the tales allow children to know their personalities and identity and also choose the person who makes them happy. Beauty learns about her character when his father loses his wealth. Furthermore, the encounter between the beast and Beauty’s father teaches children about their identity. Also, Beauty’s marriage with the Beast allows children to choose a person with whom they can live happily. The fairy tale, therefore, represents Bettelheim’s assertions on the effects of fairy tales on children.

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