Who wrote the original “Beauty and the Beast”? This timeless tale has captivated audiences for generations, enchanting them with its magical characters and profound themes. The answer to this question lies in the pen of Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, a French writer who penned the first version of this classic fairy tale in the 18th century.
Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, born in 1695, was a French writer and saloniste who lived during the Enlightenment era. She is often credited with writing the original “Beauty and the Beast,” although the story was later revised and adapted by her stepson, Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. The first version of the tale was published in 1740 as part of a collection of fairy tales called “La Jeune Américaine et les Contes Marins,” which translates to “The Young American and the Sea Tales.”
The original version of “Beauty and the Beast” was significantly different from the version that we are familiar with today. In the original story, the Beast is a monstrous creature who captures Beauty’s father and demands his daughter in exchange for his life. The Beast imprisons Beauty in his castle, treating her cruelly at first but eventually falling in love with her. Beauty, in turn, learns to love the Beast and manages to break the curse that has transformed him into a beast. However, the story does not have a happy ending, as Beauty and the Beast are separated after the curse is lifted, leaving readers to wonder about their fate.
It was Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont who revised the story to make it more suitable for a broader audience. Her version, published in 1756, included a happy ending and made the characters more likable. Beaumont’s adaptation of the tale has become the most widely known and beloved version of “Beauty and the Beast,” with its moral lessons of love, kindness, and transformation resonating with readers across the globe.
The story of “Beauty and the Beast” has been adapted into various forms of media, including stage plays, films, and television shows. The most famous adaptation is Disney’s 1991 animated film, which has become a cultural icon and has inspired countless retellings and sequels. Despite the many adaptations, the original fairy tale written by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve remains a cherished piece of literary history, providing a foundation for the enchanting stories that have followed.
