And I thought I was Christine because I actually own teaware (i.e. coffee mugs) with pictures of the royal family on them. I may or may not be enjoying a piping hot cup of Lapsang Suchong from my Queen Mum Centary mug as I type this post. (Spoiler: I’m not).
Well twin hold on to your horses because I came across a startling discovery last night when I was re-watching a favorite Disney Classic. I started watching my personal favorite of all of Mr. Disney’s movies, Beauty and the Beast last night and found myself becoming more and more shocked and dismayed as the story line progressed (and not just because of Gaston’s horrible behavior). For as the movie progressed I recognized many similarities between the Disney princess Belle and Flaubert’s own “princess” Emma.
Similarities between Belle (Beauty) and Emma Bovary that cause me concern for the future happiness of both Belle and Beast:
- Both of them like to read–if Madame Bovary has taught me anything its that reading is bad news and a source of constant sorrow.
- Both of them are continually dissatisfied with their current stations (“I want more than this provincial life” sings Belle in the sweeping opening number “Bonjour”)
- Both meet their future partners during high-stress situations involving the well-being of their fathers.
Belle meet Emma, Emma Belle. Beast beware!
Oh everything will appear to be going along hunk-dorily until Belle meets an enchanted bookcase…and well we know what happens next (or we don’t…yet.)
Then I thought what piece of household furniture would Emma Bovary be if she had been enchanted by the Curse of the Beast?
Then I thought what piece of household furniture would I be if I had been enchanted (I think a shoehorn).
Then “Be Our Guest” started playing and I had to focus on singing along in my bad French accent (“Try the gray stuff, its delicious/ Don’t believe me, ask the dishes!”)
I’ve been quite Gallic in my reading and movie watching lately. Dans Paris on Friday night. Janet Malcolm’s Two Lives (all about Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas in France) on Saturday and Sunday. And now Beauty and the Beast (which, granted, is barely French). I sense a theme.
Don’t pull a muscle patting yourself on the back for reading a chapter…you’re still lagging behind. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on certain characters who have not yet entered into your reading but that I am now quite familiar with and wish to discuss if you ever read more of the book.
Best,
Jon
