Disney Princess Article: Why Belle Reads Fairytales

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posted by hisblueeyes

The question, "Which princess do you think is the smartest?" is asked very often and every time it is asked, there are those people who pick Belle. There are the people who not only pick Belle, but comment, "Because she reads." Then, there are the people who think that is a dumb thing to say, and begin immediately saying stuff like, "She only reads fairy-tales." Every time this process has been repeated I have wanted to say something like what I am about to say, but never got the chance. So now I'm going to say it.

I think many people forget that Beauty and the Beast is not set in 2011. It isn't set in the 1950's, either. It is set a long while back, before laptops and iPad's and cars. Before gigantic bookstores with every book genre and every book title you could possibly think of. Belle lives in a small, provincial town, and the only "library" is a little bookshop with maybe two or three shelves. There aren't any trucks that come into town every week, with stacks & stacks of the newest books. No, in Belle's library, the books in there are probably the only books that are in there for months at a time. At the time Belle was alive, there also probably wasn't a Harry Potter or a Great Expectations. The only books that were probably in that library were fairy-tales. Not thin paperback fairy-tales with pictures, no, the thick, complicated, original versions of fairy-tales. Have you ever read the original version of The Little Mermaid? It's not something just anyone can read.

Another thing I think people forget is that Belle was a dreamer, a dreamer who wanted to escape her boring town. Books like Pride & Prejudice offer no escape. Fairy-tales? Now those are something. Reading books like those, of far of places, dashing sword fights & a prince in disguise were possibly Belle's only source of comfort in that town she so wanted to leave. They offered her adventure that she couldn't have. If you think that it is very childish of Belle to read such stories, put yourself in her place. Pretend that's all your library had. Pretend you need to flee where you are, but you can't, and unfortunately, Harry Potter doesn't exist yet. She also states that she's read all the books in

I'm going to end this article with the wise words of someone who has written a very fairy-tale like series himself:
Some day, you will be old enough to start reading fairy-tales again. - C.S. Lewis

Portia0623, Sparklefairy375 and 15 others like this

Swanpride Good argument - What people also tend to forget: Belle read all the books available in her little town. I really doubt that all of them were fairy tales (I'm sure that there were some philosophical excurses between them at teh very least). Yes, she picks out books with stories - but what kind of book would you rather reread, the book with the stories, or the sience book? My reading interests are very diverse, but for a reread, I would chose a story book too. And which book would you read to a someone else? A story book, naturally. Plus, you learn a lot, even if you read just stories - for example, I have never been to sea, but I know most of the nautic words because I had a thing for pirate stories for a while. Not just the made up ones, but also the real ones, which descripe parts of a ship.

sumerjoy11 Wow, this is very good! I really can relate to this article. I live in a boring town and my only escape for me is either reading or drawing. Of course, most of the things I read or draw are Diney related. People call me immature just because I still like Disney and I'm 16, but Disney helps me not only to escape the ridicule and boringness, it also helps me to dream. I never really looked at Belle from this perspective before, until I read your article.

DreamyGal You make a good point, but I disagree with what you said about Pride and Prejudice offering no escape. That is one of my favorite novels; one of the main reasons I love it is because it takes me to a different place; a place where men were gentlemen and women were ladies...the language was proper and elegant...people actually bowed to each other whenever they met. And actually for the longest time I have thought that Belle and the Beasts relationship is very similar to Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.

hisblueeyes ^Oh, I love Pride and Prejudice too, it's one of my favorite books. I just thought it wouldn't offer Belle much escape, because it might make her feel like her town is even more provincial - reading about such elegant towns.

Swanpride I think Pride and Predudice wouldn't mean much to Belle, because it carricates a society, Belle knows next to nothing about. We can understand the "jokes" and the critizism in the book, because we have enough second source material to understand it, but I'm not sure if that would apply to Belle, too.

DreamyGal Well, we all have our opinions, I think Belle would've liked it...especially the romance.

princesslullaby ^I think Belle would've like it a lot too. I don't remember where in the movie it says Belle read every book in the library. I know she says "Have you got anything new?" But that doesn't mean she read every book on the shelf. Maybe only the ones that interested her ran out, so she's hoping for a new one. I know quite a few stupid people who read a lot, and I know quite a few smart people who rarely read. I'm not entirely sure Belle reading thick fairy-tales is a concrete argument that she's smart. And I really doubt Belle would read philosophical books, not that she's not smart enough, I don't see it particularly interesting to her. I understand why Belle reads fairy-tales, I never found it frivolous of her to do so. But I think when people comment saying "Belle is smart because she reads" it is a poor argument, but what aggravates me is when people say Belle is the SMARTEST princess because she reads. Throughout the movie, I find Belle to be an intelligent, capable person, but she doesn't do anything extraordinarily genius. She has a sensible set of smarts, but I don't find her to be the most clever or the smartest.

hisblueeyes ^I completely agree, I'm not saying she's the smartest, and I do think "because she reads" is a stupid argument. But I also think saying "she only reads fairytales" is a stupid thing to say when your trying to tell people Belle isn't the smartest one. That's what this article is about.

princesslullaby My guess is Belle does only read mainly fairy-tales, but the occasional other genre. But yeah, I don't see how reading fairy-tales would give an indication of intelligence either way.

KataraLover I love that Belle reads fairy-tales and it's one of the reasons I like her. But I just don't think that sayings she's the smartest just because she reads, fairy-tales aren't meant to be educational, they're meant to make us happy. I don't think she's that smart. But I do know how she feels, I like to read my fairy-tales and other books to escape the stupidity of my town.

MrsEmmaPeel I love your article. I agree 100% and this is how I feel about Belle as well. I'm glad to see someone written an article on it. Great job.

Swanpride @princesslullaby Believe me, when you're addicted to books you will read anything you get your hands on. Since Belle doesn't has the luxury we have, she can't afford to be choosy. But yeah, I don't think that she is necessarily the smartest - there is first Mulan (who seems to be some sort of genius at times), then Rapunzel (who seems to be multitalented) and then Belle - but not because she happens to read (though it does play a part in it), but because she outsmarts Gaston (admittingly an easy thing to do), Cogsworth and Lumiere, and has the ability to beat the beast with words quite easily.

princesslullaby I don't think Rapunzel is all that smart, she makes a lot of dumb decisions. But, it depends on what kind of smart you think is the smartest. And I still think Jasmine is very smart, although lately I've knocked her down to #2 for a couple of less-than-smart things.

Swanpride I don't think that Rapunzel makes dumb decision, not when you consider the information she bases the decision on. It's easy to say that you would know better when you see the whole picture, but the question is, would you be as smart as she is in her situation? First outwitting Eugene (who isn't stupid himself), forcing him to bring her to the lights, and later figuring out Mother Gothel on her own? The only dumb thing she does is not keeping an eye on her, but that's the woman she has known as her loving mother her whole life. But I'm also impressed that she studied astronomy and chartered stars on her own. Jasmine on the other hand - well, she says that she is a fast learner, but if that's true, how did she manage to walk across the market without picking up on the simple concept of "you have to pay for what you take"? Why doesn't she pick up on the fact that it's nearly impossible that Aladdin was already killed when she reaches Jafar, and totally impossible that he was killed for kidnapping her, since nobody know that she even was with him? (and why doesn't she stay close to him to make sure that he is okay?) Why doesn't she notice Jafar hypnotising her father - Aladdin picks up on it nearly immediatly. For someone as cunning as her, she isn't perceptive at all!(And face-blind, but that seems to be some sort of desease in that movie).

ivebeendreaming I agree 100% with this article. I actually only read fairytales. It truly is an escape from everyday life. And I think I live in a pretty boring town. There's nothing magical about it. I miss living in New Jersey where there were big romantic victorian houses everywhere and real trees. Now I live in Arizona in the middle of the desert. There's no snow, no magic, and I don't really like any of the guys here. Everything is stereotypical and a year behind in fashion. Everyone acts the same (within their social groups) so there's no creativity. In fact, a lot of people are pretty judgmental when it comes to differences. Most people wear Abercrombie and Hollister tops with jeans and Vans or Toms every day. Even the Emos and Scenes are all exactly the same. I remember on the first day of 8th grade a few years ago I dressed up. And when I say "dressed up" I was wearing a babydoll style top with a skirt and leggings. The few friends I had at the time asked me why I was so dressed up. At least I'm a little different. But I feel like Belle most of the time. I have friends but most of them are like everyone else.

princesslullaby ^SEE? NEW JERSEY IS A MAGICAL, WONDERFUL LAND <3

hisblueeyes ^...I never said it was bad.

princesslullaby ^....I never said that you said that...??

heathersvan I agree with you that Belle's reading was the only place she could escape to her dreams, but I don't think that makes her any smarter. Nice article, though! Lot's of thought put it.

heathersvan @ivebeendreaming: YES! New Jersey is amazing! I love it around here ^_^

pretty_angel92 you have a good point, i read tons of fairytales and i actually consider myself a smart person. i just find it stupid how people's explanation is always "oh, she reads". that doesn't mean anything. i know a lot of people who likes to read but they're still pretty dumb. and it's frustrating to see belle always winning these kind of picks(with the exception of mulan), when rapunzel doesn't and she also reads. so what's the explanation now? simple, most of them are just being biased. i'm not saying that rapunzel makes smarter decisions, but she certainly seems to know more about general culture. she reads about botany, geology, math...

PrincessAyeka12 100% Agree with you! Reading this made me realise I'm so much like Belle.

magicfairydust Love this article! and yes, you make a very good point. :D

FlightofFantasy Good article! I never understand why adults who read fairy tales are looked down upon. I love fairy tales, always have. They are what got me into reading, into fantasy, into mythology. They were the first books I was able to read on my own, without help. Basically, they helped shape who I am. I'm now in my 20s and am a proud, unabashed fairy tale fan. I'm a fan of the "original" fairy tales (although it's basically impossible to say what the original version of any folk tale is) and of Disney's fairy tales, and I always will be. Is it a form of escapism? Yes. So is any fiction. There's nothing wrong with that. And yet adults who still love fairy tales are treated as if they're naive, or idiots, or children. I've found you actually get a lot more out of fairy tales when you revisit them as an adult. You pick up on things you never did as a child. Some might be negative (sexism, racism, etc.), but even that presents a fascinating opportunity to learn about the culture and society of the time. After all, fairy tales are really mirrors that reflect the cultural attitudes of their time. That's why they change over time, because societal attitudes change over time. What was once acceptable is now unacceptable. What was once unacceptable is now acceptable. Fairy tales are not only beautiful and magical, they are also a great learning experience and a way to introduce you to different cultures, peoples and historical periods. There's nothing childish or immature about that.

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What Being On Fanpop Has Meant To Me

posted by KataraLover

I probably should've put this article on the Fanpop fan club, but this club has been my home for years. It's where I've made a lot of memories, have been part of a community that talks about more than just Disney Princesses, has felt like a family, and has helped me A LOT through the years. So this article being published anywhere else on Fanpop won't do any justice if it's not on this club. So without further delay, here is what being on Fanpop has meant to me.

First of all, it's only fair to say that I did NOT get off to a good start when I first came here. It's embarrassing to talk about...

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Other: The Disney Princesses & Others as Mushrooms in Plants vs. Zombies

posted by ApplesauceDoctr

Hi everyone, I'm ApplesauceDoctr here today with a short article that's purely for fun. A while back I posted a poll where I associated some of the mushrooms in the game Plants vs. Zombies with the DPs, and now I wanted to expand on that while also providing some brief reasoning for my choices. Note that I'll be generalizing these characters quite a bit here, mostly looking at just one quality. This is all in good fun though, so let's begin! I'm actually going to start off with an unofficial princess:

Puff Shroom: Sofia (Sofia the First)
Sofia is the youngest and consequently smallest of...

Frozen vs Titanic: An Icy Challenge

posted by deedragongirl

Nothing on Earth Could Ever Come Between Them!

Hi everyone, for those of you who don't know, both movies share a common theme with each other that I notice! Aside from being the most highest grossing movies ever, here's my review base on my observations.

Titanic

In case you guys might be watching the movie, during the scene where Jack and Fabrizio are playing poker just moments before the ship takes off. The 2 characters to whom they challenge are 2 Swedes name Olaf and Sven, when I watch this scene for the first time in many years. I keep thinking that the 2 Swedes are going to transform into a snowman and reindeer respectively!
The music...

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Ariel and Vanessa

added by KataraLover

Source: ME

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Disney Princess' Favourite Korean Dramas

posted by deedragongirl

Which is your favourite?

Since Korean entertainment has dominated the whole of Asia, here are the Disney Princesses' favourite Korean dramas and why they love it!

Iris (Mulan & Shang)

This Korean drama is about spying and espionage, this drama reminds me of both Mulan and Shang because it teaches them about spying.

My Princess (Rapunzel & Flynn)

Although the story is very similar to the Princess Diaries, Rapunzel did not find out that she is a princess until later of the story.

Winter Sonata (Elsa, Kristoff & Anna)

As the title mentions, this drama is very old but it suits the trios. Both stories are set...

1

Vanessa With Ariel's Face

added by KataraLover

Source: ME

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Updated ranking of the Disney Princesses

posted by disneymagic93

My list hasn't changed all that much but I thought after rewatching Aladdin I would write an updated list.

13. Merida- Not a fan, I'm all for female empowerment but I don't like her attitude. She is just so rude & I do not find her likeable.

12. Elsa- She just really bugs me. I can't think of any other reasons but she just aggravates me.

11. Anna- Not keen on her either. She is not as bad as the other two but I'm not a fan, moving on.

10. Tiana- She is too much of a workaholic. I get that she has dreams to run her own restaurant but she can have fun once in awhile.

9. Jasmine- Jasmine has really...

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Disney Princess Monthly Calendar

posted by laylastepford

Thought this was really the perfect time for this light read considering which months I think each DP represents the best. :D I did this based on personality and my perception of how those personalities relate to the 4 seasons as well as each month. I hope you guys enjoy! My apologies to non-Americans as this is heavily based on my American connotations with these months especially in regards to American holidays. Hope you guys don't mind!

November: Tiana
Thanksgiving has always been my absolute favorite #1 holiday! I love it because it brings people together over a great meal, just like James'...

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My Ranking of Disney Princess Couples

posted by anukriti2409

Here's my list of Disney Princess couples, it's primarily based on what connected with me in their relationship and what i find admirable. I do have some ifs and buts with few couples but that's just my way of looking at how a relationship grow

1. Mulan and Shang:
Theirs a relation that I actually look up to with great admiration and respect. They both were mature to handle a relationship before falling for each other. Their love grew out of mutual trust, understanding and respect rather than romantic feelings. It is to not say that romantic feelings are not true or valuable, it's my personal...

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DP Villain Songs Countdown

posted by laylastepford

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http://mattesworks.deviantart.com/

Because I am still in a musical mood but also ready for the "autumn/Halloween" mood, I'd like to incorporate the two! There aren't many DP villain songs overall but I came up with at least 9 that were good enough to use for the sake of this countdown. I rated each of the songs against how villainous the lyrics were, how villainous the music sounds, how villainous the scene that accompanies the song in the film is and how villainous is the goal of the villain (or just the villain itself) singing the song? I ranked each song in the 4 categories and then ranked them overall by accumulative "evil"...

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DP crying :(

added by GirlySpunk

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Merida's Princess Ranking (Including Elsa & Anna)

posted by laylastepford

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Credit to: http://ink361.com/app/users/ig-448198347/disney._hd/photos

Okay so I tried to seek others' opinions for this who connect with Merida more than I do. I realized that there are articles on here for the ranking of every princess except for Merida and I didn't think there should be any reason for her to be excluded. I always found these articles to be so neat though so I hope the Merida-fans will appreciate this. I'm completely open to any changes with more input.

12. Aurora: General consensus seems to be that Merida would get along with Aurora the absolute least, most likely for their opposite in characters. Aurora rates duty, grace/manners, love/romance...

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The 5 DP Movies with My Favorite Morals

posted by dimitri_

Morals, like most things, are subjective.

5. Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs

I noticed that sadness seems to be the most popular emotion among people and it’s understandable, no matter how strong you are, nothing hits you harder than life. True you should try your best to get out of a bad situation but in the process, it’s good to make the best out of it. It’s important to be grateful and remember how blessed you are, a positive attitude goes a long way in order to enjoy your life.

4. Brave

What I really like with Brave is that it’s easy to relate to because disagreements and miscommunication...

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Some facts about Disney Movies you didn't knew

posted by GirlySpunk

1. The iconic song “Part of Your World,” was almost cut from The Little Mermaid.
2. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” was also almost cut from The Lion King. Elton John, who saw the film with the song removed, told producers they needed to put it back in.
3. Aladdin’s face was modeled after Tom Cruise’s.
4. And Ariel was partially modeled after Alyssa Milano.
5. The Jungle Book was the last animated film Walt Disney personally supervised; it was released 10 months after his death.
6. John Lennon turned down Walt Disney Studios’ request for the Beatles to provide the voices of the vultures...

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Bloom (Aurora)

added by Hermione4evr

The Evil Queen as Snow White

added by KataraLover

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Princess List: Most Feminist DP Part 1

posted by JNTA1234

Ah, feminism and Disney Princess. Such a complicated relationship. Now I'm not an expert, especially being a guy but the topic of feminism in relation to the DPs has always intrigued me. I'm gonna try my hand at ranking the princesses in terms of agency, independence, heroism and other aspects to figure out which one of them is the most feminist. I'm trying to expand my writing skills so this is gonna be split into three parts, starting with the bottom four.

WARNING: No Anna and Elsa in this countdown, so let's begin.

11. Aurora
Sorry guys, but I'm one of those people who believes that feminism...

Ariel and Eric's Wedding 1

added by kristenfan10109

Source: http://disney-and-co.blogspot.com/search?q=Eric

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My Favorite Song Scene From Each DP Movie

posted by sweetie-94

Yesterday I wrote an article about my favorite song from each DP Movie, today I'm doing an article about my favorite song scene from each DP Movie, the only requirement for this was that the song in the scene has to mainly be sung by a character from the movie (this rule doesn't apply to Brave), also the song scene can of course have two songs in the scene

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs - With A Smile And A Song

This movie has many great song scenes, it was actually a bit hard to pick a favorite, but this one is currently my favorite, first of all it has one my favorite songs from the...

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My Favorite Song From Each DP Movie

posted by sweetie-94

Since this month's theme is DP Songs I'm going to write a couple of articles relating to that and I'm starting with my favorite song from each DP Movie, I'm also going to do a couple of articles about which songs from different musicians that suits each DP the best and maybe also an overall one, anyway enjoy this article

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs - Someday My Prince Will Come

This is my favorite DP Song, it's such a beautiful song despite it's short length, many of the lyrics are lovely and Snow White's voice is so beautiful. This song always makes me emotional everytime I listen...