Once upon a time in a faraway land, there lived a young and handsome prince named Edward. He was known for his bravery and kindness, loved by all in the kingdom. However, his life took a dramatic turn when a wicked enchantress placed a curse on him. The curse was a result of the enchantress feeling jealousy and anger towards Prince Edward. She had always desired to have him for herself, but he had never shown any interest in her. Enraged by his rejection, she decided to take revenge.
Enraged by his rejection, she decided to take revenge. The curse was one of eternal solitude and misery. The prince would be transformed into a hideous beast, and could only break the curse if he found true love before his 21st birthday.
Dear Beauty and the Beast: Anyone Who Enchants an 11-Year-Old-Boy Is an Asshole
Beauty and the Beast will always be one of my favorite Disney movies and Belle one of my favorite Disney Princesses, which has meant having to process all the criticism of the movie and the abusive elements it contains. The” Stockholm Syndrome” and “Abusive Beast” hot takes are old hat by now, as well as the counter-arguments against those readings. However, this post is not going to be about that. This post is about that beautiful Enchantress and how she’s … kind of an asshole.
Once upon a time, I made the tragic error of buying and watching Beauty and the Beast: Enchanted Christmas, one of the “midquels” that Disney put out to give us more insight into the characters. Most of them are bad, although there are a handful of exceptions, but what is most egregious about Enchanted Christmas is how it takes a giant dump on any of the implied character development that happens during BatB’s “Something There” romance montage. It is trash, but what it does do establish is that The Beast, or … Adam, was an eleven-year-old boy when he was cursed by the Enchantress … on Christmas day.
(Also, don’t the Enchantress look like a supporting character on Gargoyles?)
Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t fairy tales frown on cursing children? Even douche-y ones. Now, what this clip does is basically ruin the entire context of The Beast’s curse. In the original movie’s opening, the prologue says that he was turned off by her ugly old woman appearance, and that’s why he didn’t let her in. It also shows the old woman giving him a second chance, warning him to not be deceived by appearances because “beauty is found within.” He turns her away again, and that’s when she transforms into a beautiful woman, sees there is no love in his heart, and turns him into a beast.
Now, in the above clip, she interrupts a pre-teen boy during Christmas, he turns her away once out of greediness, and then she bursts in like a magical Kool-Aid man and turns a child into a monster. He hasn’t even gone through puberty yet, lady!
Going back to revisit the original animated film, you may think, Oh, that’s just bad continuity from a non-canon Disney animated film, except if you listen to the songs and narration in the original movie, it says that he needed to learn to find someone to love him by his 21st birthday or forever be cursed as a beast—a curse that began ten years ago, which means, yes, he was turned into a huge monster at the age of eleven.
First of all, an eleven-year-old boy not letting a strange old woman in during bad weather is just common sense, but also, he’s a child. The narration makes him sound like a Joffrey-style sociopath, but the flashback just makes him seem like a typical spoiled brat. It seems unbelievably cruel to make a young boy go through that kind of transformation. What’s more is that there is no one around his age in the castle, and for some reason, he is the only one who ages (maybe it’s because he’s organic and everyone else is an object?), so how is he supposed to have any context for romantic love?
He’s a prince surrounded by servants, who has spent half of his life in a non-human body. Because of his isolation, he has limited social skills. It’s even implied in the animated film that he is illiterate.
What I’m saying is that this Enchantress seemed to want him to fail. That’s all. Why can’t he just learn to not be an asshole. Why does he need to “get the girl” to break his curse?
One of the things the live-action film does is make The Beast an adult and educated when he’s cursed and really plays up the fancy French decadence, which is supposed to make him more ripe for character development, but then he became The Beast Who Negs, so pass.
All this is to say that part of what makes The Beast the way he is, without excusing his behavior, is that he has no knowledge of how to live like an adult because he’s never been an adult. The biggest problem with the movie, for me, is the fact that the Enchantress pins this young man’s salvation on the back of some unsuspecting woman somewhere.
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He’s a prince surrounded by servants, who has spent half of his life in a non-human body. Because of his isolation, he has limited social skills. It’s even implied in the animated film that he is illiterate.
If he failed, he would remain a beast forever. As the days passed, Prince Edward began to transform into a terrifying creature. His once handsome face turned into a frightening mask, his body covered in fur, and his hands replaced with sharp claws. The curse had stripped away all his charm and left him with nothing but despair. The news of the curse spread quickly throughout the kingdom, and people became fearful of the beast that Prince Edward had become. Many tried to help him, but all their efforts were in vain. No one could see past his gruesome appearance and truly connect with the kindhearted prince hiding within. Years went by, and Prince Edward became more and more isolated. He spent his days wandering through the halls of his castle, his only companions being his thoughts and the haunting silence. His heart grew heavy with the weight of the curse and the loneliness that came with it. The enchantress had succeeded in her plan to bring misery upon him. One fateful day, a beautiful young girl named Belle stumbled upon the castle. She was kind and pure of heart, with a light that shone even in the darkest of places. As she encountered the beast, she saw beyond his terrifying exterior and recognized the gentle soul trapped within. Through her compassion and understanding, Belle began to break down the walls that the curse had built around Prince Edward's heart. With each passing day, their bond grew stronger and their love deeper. Prince Edward had finally found the true love that could break the curse. Just as his 21st birthday approached, Prince Edward and Belle shared a magical kiss. In that moment, the curse was shattered, and the prince was transformed back into his handsome self. The enchantress was defeated, and true love prevailed. The curse by the enchantress had taught Prince Edward a valuable lesson – that beauty lies within and that true love can conquer all. From that day forward, the prince ruled his kingdom with compassion and kindness, forever grateful for the curse that had led him to his one true love..
Reviews for "The Enchantress's Curse: Unraveling the Mysteries of Magic and Love"
1. Jack - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Curse by the enchantress". The storyline felt disjointed and rushed, and the characters lacked depth. Additionally, there were several plot holes that were never resolved. Overall, I found it to be a lackluster and forgettable read.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I cannot express how much I disliked "Curse by the enchantress". The writing style was clunky and awkward, making it difficult to get immersed in the story. The dialogue was unnatural and the characters were incredibly one-dimensional. It felt like a poor attempt at a fairy tale retelling, and I couldn't wait for it to be over.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - "Curse by the enchantress" was a huge letdown for me. The concept had so much potential, but it fell flat in execution. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed and confusing action sequences. The romance felt forced and lacked chemistry. Overall, I found it to be a disappointing read that didn't live up to its promising premise.
4. Liam - 2/5 stars - I was really underwhelmed by "Curse by the enchantress". The world-building was weak and poorly explained, leaving me confused about the setting and magic system. The characters were unlikable and made questionable decisions throughout the book. The plot twists were predictable and didn't offer any surprise. Overall, it was a forgettable and unsatisfying read.