Beauty and the Beast

Main Plot

In "Beauty and the Beast," directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, a young woman named Belle lives in a small French village with her inventor father, Maurice. When Maurice becomes lost in the forest and imprisoned in a mysterious castle, Belle sets out to rescue him. She discovers that the castle is enchanted and inhabited by a Beast and his magical servants, who were all transformed by a curse. To save her father, Belle offers to take his place as the Beast's prisoner. Over time, Belle and the Beast develop a deep bond, learning to look beyond appearances and discovering the true meaning of love. Meanwhile, a vain and aggressive suitor from Belle's village, Gaston, plots to kill the Beast and win Belle's hand. The story culminates in a dramatic confrontation that tests the strength of their newfound love and ultimately breaks the curse, restoring the Beast and his servants to their human forms. The film emphasizes themes of inner beauty, redemption, and the transformative power of love.

Characters

• Paige O'Hara voices Belle, a book-loving village girl who helps transform the Beast back into a prince through her love and kindness.
• Robby Benson voices the Beast, a cursed prince whose transformation back into human form hinges on earning true love before the last petal of an enchanted rose falls.
• 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. However, upon seeing Belle return to the castle, the Beast regains his will to live and defends himself. Ultimately, Gaston is defeated but, in a final act of malice, stabs the Beast before falling to his death. As the Beast lies dying, Belle tearfully confesses her love for him just as the last petal falls from the enchanted rose. This declaration breaks the spell cast by the Enchantress, transforming the Beast back into his human form, Prince Adam, and restoring his castle and servants to their original states. The film concludes with a celebratory scene where Belle and the Prince dance together, symbolizing the triumph of love and inner beauty over superficial appearances and prejudice. This resolution underscores the film's central themes of redemption, transformation, and the power of true love.