This line does not seem to mesh with the rest of Bell’s character. In Beauty and the Beast, Bell is selfless, charitable and wise. This particular song seems to indicate that she is ambitious, ungrateful and greedy. Seen in the proper light, however, I believe this song is the key to one of the more important themes in the film, which is often overlooked.
This is, in part, due to the fact that so many truths of human existence are present here. The importance of looking past superficial appearances, the vicious tendencies of mobs and crowds, the true nature of love as sacrifice, the wide-ranging effects of evil and many other themes are present in at least some fashion, subtle or otherwise.
But why is Bell so determined to escape “this provincial life” and why does she sing this song with a smile on her face? Is not this a mixed signal at best, or sheer greed at worst? Does she not love the books in this town, cheerfully “bonjour” the various characters and dance her way back to her father, whom she enthusiastically encourages regarding his science project?
Why yes, she does all of those things. She is very happy and yet she wants more. Some would call this greedy, I would call this saintly. Allow me to explain.
Cardinal Newman outlines the difference between the “watchful” Christian and the unwatchful Christian as being one of satisfaction. The watchful Christian is unsatisfied with this world, longs for the return of Christ, and so does not place his joy in material things; therefore, he is constantly on the lookout for the coming of the Lord. The unwatchful Christian, while attending Mass, going to confession and in general following the commandments, is satisfied with the things of this world. He likes them for what they are, and not for what they point him toward.
We are, of course, meant to appreciate the many good things God has given us, and Bell does. She likes her books and her horse and so on. But we are not supposed to be satisfied with them. The things of this world are imperfect and impermanent, and even as we thank God for them we should be begging Him to return, that we might participate in His goodness as fully as we were always supposed to do. Power, fame, money, stature—these things do not last.
Now observe what Bell does. She appreciates her life—but she is not satisfied with it. She turns down the greatest life a woman in her “world” (this provincial town) could possibly have. The stature of marriage to Gaston, the money this would avail her, the envy of all, the power of becoming a veritable village queen—all of this is unimportant to Bell. Instead, by the end of the film, she has a life much greater than this. The Beast’s castle is not simply a bigger palace over which to rule. It is, in a sense, the afterlife. And in this afterlife, because she died to self in the material world, and sacrificed herself in the most loving of ways, she has gained… everything. Much as Jesus promised us would happen if we were able to die to self.
Now hold on there, Mr. Crazy Theorist, you might be saying to yourself. What is this “afterlife”, “death to self” and other such nonsense of which you speak? She doesn’t die!
Actually… she does. Being a fan of the film, it is easy to overlook Bell’s act of love toward her father. She promises to stay with the beast forever in order that her father might go free. Forever. Knowing the end of the film, this seems, shall we say, less than horrifying. But just imagine what happens if the beast never softens, if love never enters his life, and if she is just stuck there.
Forever.
She basically died. She would never see her father, her town, her fellow human beings again. She would have lived out her days cold, alone and forlorn, subject to the vicissitudes and temperaments of a monster. She would have gone from village queen to lifelong prisoner in a matter of hours, and she would have done it all because she valued her father more than herself, and she valued the next life more than the trappings of “this provincial life.”
Then, of course, having died to herself, she goes about converting the Beast who also dies to self (but in a much more literal fashion) before they are united in the “Heaven” of the film’s finale. Note that the Beast also had to choose which was more important to him—having Bell in his castle forever, or giving Bell up because she needed to see her father. He, also, could have had his material dream—but let it go. Bell and the Beast forsook this world, and only in doing so were they able to live happily ever after in the next world.
This, to me, is the most enduring theme of Beauty and the Beast. As we view it from this angle, it becomes apparent that when we chase after money, or power, or fame in our lives, we are marrying Gaston. The most powerful man or woman in the world is still just the Gaston of a slightly bigger “provincial life.” Bell gave up all of this and even her basic freedom because she wanted more than that out of life. If only we would be so ambitious.
~Right Thumb~
