Is Ariel and the Beast's Story's An Allegory for Transgender

[Winter]

Think about it, both Ariel and the Beast are people who view themselves in bodies they do not like and, in the Beast's case, outright hate, and feel as though they are trapped within said body, and only find happiness when they've changed in someway, (Ariel getting legs and the Beast regaining his human form). Something that's always drawn my attention with this idea is how cloths are used as a major part of their character arcs, Ariel showing an interest in wearing dresses that she cannot wear in the world she knows because they don't fit her and because it would be frond upon by her family, most notably her father.

By contrast as Beauty and the Beast goes on the Beast begins to wear more human cloths which while he's unsure about at first quickly grows to enjoy, likely because their cloths that he would want to wear but couldn't because of the body he was forced to take.

Something else that's interesting, in Ariel's case, is her father's reaction when he discovers her hidden grove. It's not just the statue he destroys but her entire collection, things that make her happy that he sees as wrong and that are corrupting her child. And he and Ariel only know peace once he chooses to except her for who she truly is and gives her the form she wishes to have.

The arcs of those close to the heroes are also interesting for anyone who's known someone who's trans as some or excepting while others show resistance and not out of any form of malevolence but just because they think they're doing the right thing because they are trapped in old mindsets. Ariel's father views Ariel's interest in anything human AND his horror at realizing that his actions drove his child away from him and his desire to mend the damage and, as I mentioned before, choosing to except her for who she is something many parents who have trans children will be all to familiar with.

Was this the intent of the writers? Hard to say but it's unlikely though, as many will note, one of the song writer for The Little Mermaid (who I think also wrote songs for Beauty and the Beast) was gay so there is queer coding in the writing to one degree or another. It is interesting to look back at these film's as Disney becomes more and more inclusive and see, (laughs) something there that wasn't there before.

[hammerofglass]

One element that's so on the nose it's barely allegory: Beast's out-of control mindless anger and complete disregard for polite behavior (even though it was taught to him when he was younger) in the early part of the movie is pretty damn close to going through puberty and early adulthood in a body that produces waaaay more testosterone than your brain is wired to deal with. Then the fight with Gaston shows it's all still there, he just learned to manage it for the sake of other people. In the end after Magic Transition he's actually calm for the first time in the movie, and the courteous sweetheart that was poking through it all in his best moments is just his personality now.

[Al-1701]

I would say the Little Mermaid is the better allegory for transgender as it is a person natively of one species and world longing to be of another species and world. Adam (that's the actual name of the Beast) was originally human and forcefully changed into a beast.

Beast is more about finding the humanity within. He was a terrible person on a terrible path. The enchantress's spell just brought what was within without. Adam, being a beastly person, became a beast. The castle staff, being enablers to his behavior, became the literal tools they were.

Beast needed to not just get someone to fall in love with him, but get in touch with the humanity that resided within him. And that took someone willing to tell him to his furry face "No, I will not put up with your crap." Enter Belle. The scene where she's tending his wounds, she might as well have said, "I'm not stuck here with you, you're stuck here with me."

And, being with a person who shut down all his worst tendencies, Beast had to adapt for the sake of his sanity. And, having to check himself, he discovers that humanity within him. Belle is willing to meet him halfway on things, like he can't handle silverware properly. He even decides to give her gift as a sign of gratitude that for the first time his life is looking up.

And, the first time she asks, he is willing to let her go. It's the right thing to do even if it breaks his heart as that one light in his life is leaving. When Gaston faces him, he's so depressed he can't even bring himself to fight back despite Gaston's intent to kill him. Why should he fight to live this life? It's not until Belle comes back that he finds the will to live. Also, while Beast in the beginning of the movie fight have torn Gaston to shreds, and he gave into his anger here, he stops himself and simply demands Gaston leave. If only Gaston could take just accept the L and live to hunt another day.

So, yeah, Beauty and the Beast is more about getting past outward appearances and discovering the true self.

[Madner Kami]

I feel that's neither here nor there. Was it intended as such? Probably not. Can you interpret it this way? Certainly.

[McAvoy]

I feel that's neither here nor there. Was it intended as such? Probably not. Can you interpret it this way? Certainly.

I agree.

Reminds me of that story where a book says the drapes are blue. Book reviewer thinks it's an symbolism for something. A debate group thinks it's a symbol for something else. The author? The drapes were just blue.

[Winter]

I feel that's neither here nor there. Was it intended as such? Probably not. Can you interpret it this way? Certainly.

I agree.

Reminds me of that story where a book says the drapes are blue. Book reviewer thinks it's an symbolism for something. A debate group thinks it's a symbol for something else. The author? The drapes were just blue.

I fully agree, it's almost 100% certain that no one making these films were making it with the mindset of being an allegory for anything but just being a simple story with a fantastical element to it. Looking back I probably should have called this post Can Ariel and The Beast's Arc Be Seen as a Allegory for Transgenders? With the steady increase in LGBT material in all forms of entertainment across the States and Disney making a big move towards that with the Owl House with Amphibia and The Ghost and Molly McGee possibility hinting at SS relationships within the main cast (and in some cases just flat out stating it) it's interesting to look upon Disney's Older Films and see that could be interpreted as Pro-LGBT.

Of the major medias (Games, Film, TV, Novels and Comics) film has been the slowest to change due a lot of their financial returns relying on overseas box office and films getting more expensive so a poor return at the box office is not something most films are willing to risk. It will change of that you can be certain and when it does it will be interesting look back at the old Disney Classics and see how their interpreted then.

[McAvoy]

I feel that's neither here nor there. Was it intended as such? Probably not. Can you interpret it this way? Certainly.

I agree.

Reminds me of that story where a book says the drapes are blue. Book reviewer thinks it's an symbolism for something. A debate group thinks it's a symbol for something else. The author? The drapes were just blue.

I fully agree, it's almost 100% certain that no one making these films were making it with the mindset of being an allegory for anything but just being a simple story with a fantastical element to it. Looking back I probably should have called this post Can Ariel and The Beast's Arc Be Seen as a Allegory for Transgenders? With the steady increase in LGBT material in all forms of entertainment across the States and Disney making a big move towards that with the Owl House with Amphibia and The Ghost and Molly McGee possibility hinting at SS relationships within the main cast (and in some cases just flat out stating it) it's interesting to look upon Disney's Older Films and see that could be interpreted as Pro-LGBT.

Of the major medias (Games, Film, TV, Novels and Comics) film has been the slowest to change due a lot of their financial returns relying on overseas box office and films getting more expensive so a poor return at the box office is not something most films are willing to risk. It will change of that you can be certain and when it does it will be interesting look back at the old Disney Classics and see how their interpreted then.

I remember seeing some articles about Beauty and the Beast, the live action one brought up some points. I can't remember offhand most of them. The only one I remember that it's shows Stockholm syndrome.

[goodperson25]

I'm pretty sure I remember hearing that the original Little Mermaid has LGBTIA+ themes in regards to living as your real self and what not that stemmed from the life of the original creator. Can't remember the exact details but it's not surprising that the theme continues in adaptations, or that those themes have, do and will continue to be put into creative works.

On that same vein pretty sure "Stockholm Syndrome" is historically a bunch of BS.

[McAvoy]

I'm pretty sure I remember hearing that the original Little Mermaid has LGBTIA+ themes in regards to living as your real self and what not that stemmed from the life of the original creator. Can't remember the exact details but it's not surprising that the theme continues in adaptations, or that those themes have, do and will continue to be put into creative works.

On that same vein pretty sure "Stockholm Syndrome" is historically a bunch of BS.

Not saying I agree with it. Just saying that was brought up alot to the point I remember it.

[goodperson25]

I'm pretty sure I remember hearing that the original Little Mermaid has LGBTIA+ themes in regards to living as your real self and what not that stemmed from the life of the original creator. Can't remember the exact details but it's not surprising that the theme continues in adaptations, or that those themes have, do and will continue to be put into creative works.

On that same vein pretty sure "Stockholm Syndrome" is historically a bunch of BS.

Not saying I agree with it. Just saying that was brought up alot to the point I remember it.

Yeah didn't mean anything in regards to you mentioning it, just adding that context cause I was already bringing up something I learned in a similar way/time/whatever other reason for my brain to associate those two things together.