Beauty and the Prince
The classic Disney tale of Beauty and the Beast is about an arrogant Prince who refused to help a peasant who begged for shelter from the storm. He refused her to enter the castle because she was an ugly poor women, moments later she transforms into a beautiful, young, wealthy looking women. When asking the Prince again if she could have shelter from the storm in the castle the Prince begged her to come inside. Angry, the witch put a curse on the arrogant Prince and all his guests. She turned him into an ugly Beast and all his guests into old talking furniture. She gave him one single red rose and said the only way to reverse the curse is to find true love before the last pedle of the rose falls, if he doesn’t find true love before the rose dies he will stay a Beast forever and his guests will stay furniture forever. Luckily Belle, a beautiful, book loving, smart local village girl finds herself in the Beast castle talking the spot as prisoner from her father. After weeks in the castle with the Beast, Belle finds herself falling in love. A prince from a neighboring village has his eye on Belle as well, however he is only interested in Belles looks, not her intelligence. A theme that goes unnoticed in this fairy tale is how much people judge other people by their looks, not their personality. The arrogant Prince refuses to allow the ugly peasant in his house because of her looks, however was going to allow the beautiful witch into his castle based off her looks. They are the exact same person, ugly peasant and beautiful witch, same personality yet different face. The Beast has the same personality as the arrogant prince at first, they just look different. So, my big question is, why? Why do we second guess our decisions when someone looks different? “Politics of Appearance.” *This article focuses on the impact beauty and looks have on society. In explaining this role, Cynthia Vejar notes that, “Pithy sayings such as "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and "don't judge a book by its cover" impart messages suggesting that aesthetics are not only subjective, but that they are secondary to the internal depth and beauty that resides within. These messages are quite comforting and appreciate the unique "raw materials" that each person is randomly allotted and encourages people to transform their inner strengths accordingly in order to refine their natural, inherent beauty. Parents reassuringly repeat such mantras to their children, hoping to infuse values that reflect wisdom, profundity, and skill over that which is superficial and frivolous. Undoubtedly, as soon as these children exit the warm, encouraging cocoon of their parents embrace into the abrasive realities of the exterior world, they are engulfed by messages that denote the contrary.” (Overview). Vejar’s points about societies habit of judging a book by its cover will support and help my question as to why people are so quick to judge others Appearance. “'Some People Are Like, ''Why Are You All Dressed Up in School?'' But People Judge You By the Way You Take Care of Yourself.'” *This article focuses on how your exterior doesn’t define your interior. In explaining this role, Maria D’onofrio notes that, “I try my hardest to look good. Some people are like, ''Why are you all dressed up in school?'' But people judge you by the way you take care of yourself. I think good-looking people are more successful. I don't mean to sound like, if you're ugly -- I don't even want to use that word. You could be not good-looking and still be the nicest person or the most successful person.” (1) D’onofrio points about how your personality isn’t defined by your looks will support and help my question as to why people are so quick to judge others Appearance. “STUDENT VIEWS: Being 'pretty' simply not important”* This article focuses on society’s affect on self-image, and the role media plays on how you see yourself. In explaining this role, Ana Mendez notes that, “"Everyone's perfect" is a phrase most people know, but it's not a phrase commonly believed. "I'm so fat," or, "I'm so ugly" are more likely the phrases you hear daily as a teen. From conversations in the halls of school to the writings on the bathroom walls, self-hatred is something we've come to believe is acceptable. For some, it has become normal - but how can it not be when we are bombarded by a certain standard of what you need look like? The media has pushed this idea of who we should be since the day we were born - telling girls that being "pretty" is all they should strive for, harassing boys with a notion of what "real men" are.” Mendez points about the media’s affects with self-image will upport and help my question as to why people are so quick to judge others Appearance, and help my adaptation into the 21st century. Works Cited "'Some People Are Like, ''Why Are You All Dressed Up in School?'' But People Judge You By the Way You Take Care of Yourself.'." New York Times, 16 Sept. 2007, p. 4(L). Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A168705531/OVIC?u=maine&sid=OVIC&xid=4255484e. "STUDENT VIEWS: Being 'pretty' simply not important." Goldstream News Gazette [Victoria, British Columbia], 8 Jan. 2015, p. 5. Infotrac Newsstand, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A396619619/STND?u=maine&sid=STND&xid=f88bf401. Merkin, Daphne. "The Politics Of Appearance." The New York Times Magazine, 26 Aug. 2007, p. 306(L). Academic OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A168026847/AONE?u=maine&sid=AONE&xid=174161ea. |