Beauty and the Beast

"Beauty and the Beast" is a classic fairy tale where an ugly beast seeks true love from a beautiful girl to break a curse cast by an evil fairy. Originally penned in the mid-18th century by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, the story explores themes related to the marriage system of that era, highlighting women's lack of agency. Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont later simplified and published a more accessible version, which gained widespread acclaim and solidified her as the story’s recognized author.