Fairytales influence our lives from the time we are young enough to become engaged in their stories. The authors of these fairytales have started legends that stay in our lives for generations and help us understand life lessons. Madame le Prince de Beaumont is the author of many classic stories including the well-known and loved Beauty and the Beast. The timeless tale which was made into a Disney animated movie, is recognized by many because of Madame Beaumont’s classical story however her name can not to be found in popular books or on a library database. How is it that Beauty and the Beast is so popular and appreciated but, the author behind the magic is overlooked? Madame Beaumont’s status as an aristocratic 19th century woman may have an effect on her historical reputation.
What is left of Madame Beaumont's literature.....Disney making her story into a movie. She deserves more!
Madame Le Prince de Beaumont was a powerful woman left by her parents to make her own living, which she did by writing more than seventy works of literature (Stephens, 14). Her brochures, collections of letters and fairytales all have a common theme of women empowerment. Madame Le Prince be Beaumont, along with other writers in the 1800’s believed that “women are by nature upright and faithful; men establish a double standard; while making laws to dispense themselves from the practice of morality….” (Stewart, 31). Many of her poems and letters were to demonstrate the role women should have in society and suggest that men are over-dominant. The heroines in Madame Beaumont’s stories are surprisingly social and confident, which was a new idea in history that was supported by other women authors in France (Stewart, 39). Even in Beauty and the Beast, this theme was particularly different than in other romantic fairytale stories. The main woman character, Belle shows individuality and strength while the man, Beast is the one in need of help. Men and traditional women may not have agreed with this kind of story, especially fairytales that they would be reading and teaching to their children.
Madame Beaumont as a strong independent woman.
Madame Beaumont’s strong belief that the power of woman is under recognized could be disagreeable to some people in the nineteenth century. If there were those in the past who enjoyed the lessons and tales that Madame Beaumont wrote, they would have continued to tell her stories and pass on her fairytales. She was determined to write poems and other collections for children and did so without the recognition she deserves (Wikipedia). Her views and opinions on the role of women in society would have had an effect on the sustainability of her recognition throughout history. Although her name may not be well-known her work and morals will be remembered and recognized through her works of literature.
Works Cited
Encyclopedia Britannica. "Facts about Mme Le Prince De Beaumont." Encyclopedia –
Britannica Online Encyclopedia. 2005. Web. 02 Mar. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/
facts/5/505851/Mme-Le-Prince-de-Beaumont-as-discussed-in-children’s-literature>.
Stephens, Sonya. A History of Women's Writing in France. Cambridge [England: Cambridge UP,
2000. Online.
Stewart, Joan Hinde. Gynographs: French Novels by Women of the Late Eighteenth Century.
Lincoln: University of Nebraska, 1993. Print.
Wikipedia. "Jeanne-Marie Le Prince De Beaumont." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 02
Mar. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne-Marie_Le_Prince_de_Beaumont>.
great images!
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