Beauty and the Beast

Main Plot

In "Beauty and the Beast," directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, a young woman named Belle feels out of place in her provincial village. Her father, Maurice, stumbles upon a mysterious, enchanted castle and is imprisoned by its Beastly master. Belle bravely offers to take her father's place as the Beast's prisoner. Over time, she befriends the castle's enchanted staff and begins to see beyond the Beast's frightening exterior. As they grow closer, Belle and the Beast must confront their own fears and pasts. Meanwhile, a vain hunter named Gaston plots to win Belle's hand and eliminate the Beast. The story explores themes of love, transformation, and the importance of looking beyond appearances.

Characters

• Paige O'Hara voices Belle, the intelligent and kind-hearted protagonist who helps transform the Beast back into a prince through her love and compassion.
• Robby Benson voices the Beast, a cursed prince who must earn Belle's love to break the spell and regain his human form.
• Jesse Corti voices LeFou, Gaston's bumbling sidekick, who provides comic relief and assists Gaston in his schemes to win Belle's affection.

Ending Explained

In the 1991 animated film "Beauty and the Beast," directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, the climax occurs when Gaston leads a mob to attack the Beast's castle. During the ensuing battle, Gaston confronts the Beast, who initially refuses to fight back but eventually defends himself to protect Belle. Gaston is ultimately defeated and falls to his death from the castle's rooftop. As the Beast lies mortally wounded, Belle confesses her love for him just as the last petal falls from the enchanted rose. This declaration breaks the curse placed on the Beast and his servants. The Beast is transformed back into a prince, and the castle and its inhabitants return to their human forms. The film concludes with Belle and the Prince dancing in the ballroom, symbolizing their love and the restoration of happiness and normalcy to the castle. This ending underscores the film's themes of love, redemption, and the transformative power of seeing beyond outward appearances.