Anyone who knows me knows that Beauty and the Beast is my favourite fairytale...my favourite love story...my favourite dream that teeters on the knife's edge between fiction and reality.
There have been hundreds of retellings of this classic tale of rose petals, magic, and the deepest value of inner beauty. One of my absolute favourite versions of this story was penned in this century...a hypnotic modern retelling that appeared first on the page, and then across the silver screen.
Beastly.
The story of Kyle...strikingly handsome in face, popular and wealthy in lifestyle, and arrogant and cold in heart and soul. One word, one curse...and his flawless features are warped into the scarred, tattooed visage of a modern-day beast. Pushed aside by his horrified father, locked away in a house where none but his blind tutor and his loving housekeeper are witness to his "ruined" appearance.
The story of Lindy...a tenderhearted dreamer in love with roses, burdened by a careless father who makes one mistake too many. Swept into circumstances that lead her straight into Kyle's prison-palace...into a greenhouse full of roses...
...and love enough to break a curse.
I want nothing more than to press this book into the hands of every last human being on this planet...perhaps then a new view could be taken on appearance, on romance, on the realities of love.
Some fool has spread a rumor that women want a certain thing in a man. Strong muscles, masculine features, and a popular streak boosted with money and power.
Like I have said, the person who invented this mentality was a fool...and has passed his foolishness down to twist the minds of men and women both.
Knights don't always come wearing shining silver armour, prancing in atop a white horse...they don't always have perfect hair or flawless skin...they aren't always the most popular or the one with the most fantastic car.
What I care about is behind the helmet and steed.
I want to see the dents.
I want strength of character...depth of heart...eyes that see me and not my body's lack of perfection...hands that can carry me when I can't stand.Am I the only one that thinks like this? Am I so very strange in my mindset?
If I am, correct me, please.
But not every woman is Cinderella. We don't all want Prince Charming.
Sometimes, all we are is Belle...
...and all we want is a Beast.
I just was scared that you didn't love me. And I didn't think you could because of how ugly I am. I should've known better. That's not who you are. You took one look at me and still said you'd seen worse. And somehow, when I'm around you, I don't feel ugly at all. ~Beastly
Personally, when Kyle was the beast in the story I thought he was the most beautiful man in the world. I wish he could've stayed like that...ppsssh...hair is for normal people.
ReplyDeleteLovely post! And it's a lovely movie and book, as well. And no, you're not the only one who thinks this way, I want a man who's all about God. And he will be submitted to people in higher authority than him as well. I put the looks and height in God's hands. Even though I admit I'm still pondering on what he'll look like, but then again, alot of girls have done that ;) :))
-Jocee <3
I do love this story and it's for many of the reasons you've listed! Though I do have to say, Will(the tutor) stole my heart in this one! =)
ReplyDeleteOh I am so intrigued now! I wanted so bad to see this movie, and now you made that desire worse. lol. But thank you for that. :)
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day! xxxx~Kelsey
p.s. I still want a Prince Charming, but that's just me. ;)
Lovely, inspiring post as always! Nobody's perfect... and nobody should be. We are all beastly in our own ways.
ReplyDeleteNever seen it, but I love the story of Beauty and the Beast. Beautiful post summing up some of my own thoughts from the past few days. Your blog is lovely :)
ReplyDeleteOkay, so as I looked around some of your pages, I was surprised to see how many things your family and my family have in common! Peru and India are two places that I want to go to... I just have a heart for the people there. I have an adopted brother from India, so I thought that it was so cool both that you were adopted and that you have a desire to visit those places. And I'm homeschooled!
Also, I think it's awesome that you got married at a young age -- my mom got married when she was 18, and she and my dad have been married for 15 years now! Anyways, I'm off to click the follow button!
This is literally my FAVOURITE modern retelling of this story, and I have read just about every last one that I can possibly get my hands on.
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't read this book or seen this movie, I recommend it more than anything. It's a winner. It's BRILLIANT. It's romance personified. <3