The tale of Beauty and the Beast is at least 4,000 years old, perhaps second in popularity only to Cinderella. It has generated many print versions, animated films, a Broadway show, and a Disney film. What about this tale continues to ensure its popularity? And what is this tale really about?
Beauty and the Beast is a metaphor for the development of the feminine, symbolized by an animal bridegroom—who, of course, is an enchanted prince. It’s tempting to see this tale as an example of women treated as chattel by misogynistic males, but as our archetypal bones, fairy tales show us universal problems, patterns, and psychic realities. Beauty’s task is to relate to her instinctual self, represented by the beast. Each of us has an inner other, often imaged as opposite sex, who possesses qualities that seem utterly foreign yet compel attention and interaction.
The tale begins with Beauty’s father stealing a rose for his favorite daughter from the beast’s garden. Outraged, the beast demands retribution: either the father or one of his daughters must agree to live with the beast. Beauty, described as “loyal and modest,” loves her father and insists on sacrificing herself to the beast, who they believe will kill her. A seemingly simple rose comes at a high price, and representations of masculine figures are negative: feckless father and fiend. However, the rose is a mandala. It opens like the lotus from a center and holds the promise of wholeness.
We see the interplay of opposites at the outset and throughout: Beauty’s innocence and self-sacrifice contrast with the beast’s domineering will. Beauty’s seemingly loving father is powerless and unable to protect her, but the beast provides for her every want despite her nightly refusal to wed him. In the beast’s domain, naïve and compliant Beauty discovers her power of self-determination: she stands up to the beast as she did not do with her father, and the beast agrees to let her visit her family. Given freedom from obligation, she chooses to return to the beast.
Beauty’s realization reflects her newfound ability to base loyalty on character and consciousness rather than reflexive filial duty. She needed to access autonomy, and her primal inner other—the beast–needed to relinquish control. Beauty and the Beast is a heartening tale of hard-won wholeness—and at its center is love.
HERE’S THE DREAM WE ANALYZE:
“I am at a social function in a chic, minimal, modern venue. The attendees include some close friends, notably my mother and one of my best friends (I’ll call her Jane). The chefs at the function make gorgeous food out of flowers and something resembling gelatin. At a certain point, the chefs call me over to give me a special thing. They hand me a translucent green jelly orb with a purple flower resembling witch alder suspended in the center. It is clear to me that I am meant to pass the orb around to the party attendees. As they pass it around, most members only touch it, but once it gets to Jane, she puts the flower in her mouth and pulls it out like a lollipop.”
BECOME A DREAM INTERPRETER:
We’ve created DREAM SCHOOL to teach others how to work with their dreams. A vibrant community has constellated around this mission, and we think you’ll love it. Check it out.
PLEASE GIVE US A HAND:
Hey folks — We need your help. So please BECOME OUR PATRON and keep This Jungian Life podcast up and running.
SHARE YOUR DREAM WITH US:
SUBMIT YOUR DREAM HERE FOR A POSSIBLE PODCAST INTERPRETATION.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, LINKEDIN, TWITTER, YOUTUBE
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A JUNGIAN ANALYST?
Enroll in the PHILADELPHIA JUNGIAN SEMINAR and start your journey to become an analyst.
LET’S STAY in TOUCH:
SUBSCRIBE to our free newsletter.
