This is one of my favorite fairy tales. In many ways Beauty is symbolic of the church (our mother) in this tale and Beast is symbolic of Jesus. This tale also has a lesson in it that is to follow your heart and not appearances.
Summary of “Beauty and the Beast” by Andrew Lang (1889).
Once upon a time there was an rich merchant. He had 6 sons and 6 daughters who had everything that they wanted.
Sadly one day, their house caught fire and was burnt to the ground. Then, their father lost all of his ships at sea and his trusted clerks proved to be unfaithful, leaving him and his family in poverty.
They were forced to retreat to a cottage in the country where they worked hard and lived a simple life. Only the youngest daughter, Beauty, tried to be brave and cheerful.
One day, their father received news that one of his ships was found. All of the children, except Beauty, asked for jewels and dresses. Beauty doubted that they would be rich again and asked for nothing. When her father asked, “What shall I bring for you, Beauty,” her answer was, “My only wish is for you to return home safely.”
This confused her sisters. Her father was pleased, but he thought that she ought to like pretty presents at her age. Therefore, Beauty said, “Dear father, as you insist, please bring a rose to me. I have not seen one since we came here and I love them so.”
With that, he set out to town, only to find that his former companions, believing him dead, divided the good between themselves. After all of that trouble and expense, he was as poor as when he started his journey. Worse yet, he had to leave town in terrible weather.
On his way home, the night overtook him. The deep snow made it impossible for his horse to carry him and not a house was to be seen. He ended up spending a restless night in a hollow tree trunk as wolves howled. When he awoke, snow had covered up the path.
He pushed on until he found an avenue of trees that ended in a splendid castle. Strangely, there was no snow on the avenue and it was lined with orange trees covered with flowers and fruit. When he entered the castle, the pleasant warmth of the air revived him, and he felt very hungry. However, no host was to be found.
He wandered around in silence until he came to a room that was smaller than the others. A chair was drawn closely to a fireplace with a clear fire burning in it. Thinking that this must have been prepared for someone expected, he sat down to wait, and very soon fell fast asleep.
He was awakened by extreme hunger and found himself still alone, but a little table with a tasty dinner had be set out for him. He quickly ate his meal, he and hoped that he might be able to thank his considerate host, but no one appeared.
He fell asleep again, awakened refreshed, and found another meal full of dainty cakes and fruit there for him.
He searched once more through all of the rooms, but not even a servant could be found. He went down to the garden where birds sang, flowers bloomed, and the air was soft and sweet.
In awe of the magnificence of the mysterious castle, the merchant thought to himself, “All of this must be meant for me. I will go this minute and bring my children to share in all these delights.” As he made his way to the stable, he saw that the path was lined with hedges of the most beautiful roses that he had ever seen. They reminded him of his promise to Beauty, so he stopped to gather one of them. Suddenly, he was startled by a strange noise behind him. When he turned around, he saw terrifying and seemingly angry Beast.
It said in a horrible voice: “Who told you that you might gather my roses? I was kind to you and this is how you show your gratitude, by stealing my flowers? Your insolence shall not go unpunished!”
Petrified, the merchant dropped the rose and said, “Pardon me, Nobel sir. I am truly grateful to you and did not imagine that you would be offended by my taking such a little thing as a rose,” but the Beast remained angry and said, “You are very ready with excuses and flattery, but that will not save you from the death you deserve.”
In despair, he began to tell the Beast all of his misfortunes, and the reason of his journey, not forgetting to mention Beauty’s request. Then, he pleaded, “I beg you forgive me, for you see I meant no harm.”
The Beast thought for a moment and said, in a less furious tone, “I will forgive you on one condition – that is, that you will give me one of your daughters.”
The merchant protested, “Even if I were cruel enough to buy my own life at the expense of one of my children’s, what excuse would I even use to bring her here?”
“No excuse would be necessary,” answered the Beast. “If she comes at all she must come willingly. I will not have her under any other condition. See if any one of them is courageous enough and loves you enough to come and save your life. You seem an honest man, so I will trust you to go home. I give you a month to see if any of your daughters will come back with you and stay here, to let you go free. If none will, you must come alone after bidding them good-bye forever, for then you will belong to me. And do not imagine that you can hide from me, for if you fail to keep you word, I will come and fetch you!”
The merchant accepted, but did not believe that his daughters would come. He promised to return at the time appointed and asked permission to set off at once. The Beast said that he could not go until the next day when he would find his horse ready. He ended by telling him, “Now go and eat your supper, and await my orders.”
The poor merchant went back to his room where a delicious supper awaited him, but he was too terrified to eat. He tasted a few dishes for fear of angering the Beast, and told him heard a great noise in the next room.
The Beast appeared and asked if he had supped will. The merchant answered humbly that he had and thanked his host for his kindness. The Beast warned him to remember their agreement, and to prepare his daughter for exactly for what she had to expect.
“Tomorrow,” Beast added, “You will find your breakfast waiting for you here, and a horse will be ready and waiting for you in the courtyard. He will also bring you back again with your daughter in a month hence. Farewell. Take a rose to Beauty, and remember your promise!”
The next day, he rode swiftly away. His sons and daughters, eager to know the result of his journey. He hid the truth from them at first and sadly gave Beauty her rose.
Then, he told them of his adventures and they were all very unhappy. The sons made plans to kill the Beast, but the father reminded them of his promise to go back. The daughters were angry with Beauty, blamed her, and bitterly complained that they should not have to suffer her folly.
In great distress poor beauty said, “I have, indeed, caused this misfortune, but I assure you that I did it innocently. Who could have guessed that to ask for a rose in the middle of summer would cause so much misery? But as I did the mischief, it is only just that I should suffer for it. I will, therefore, go back with you father.”
At first no one would hear of this arrangement, but Beauty was firm. At the appointed time, she encouraged her father as they left on the horse given to him by the Beast.
As night fell, they saw colored lights shining in all directions, and splendid fireworks blazing out before them. The air became warm and the avenue of orange trees appeared before them. The palace, was illuminated from roof to ground and music sounded softly from the courtyard. “The Beast must be very hungry,” said Beauty, trying to laugh, “if he makes all this rejoicing over the arrival of his prey.”
In spite of her anxiety, she could not help admiring the wonderful things she saw.
Her father led her to the little room he had been in before and they found the table set with a delicious supper.
They ate their meal, but hardly finished before they heard the Beast’s footsteps approaching. Beauty clung to her father in terror, but when the Beast appeared, she made a great effort to hide her terror, and saluted him respectfully.
Pleased, he said in a frightening, though not angry voice, “Good-evening, old man. Good-evening, Beauty.”
The merchant was too afraid to reply, but Beauty answered sweetly, “Good-evening, Beast.”
“Have you come willingly?” asked the Beast. “Will you be content to stay here when your father goes away?” Beauty answered that she was prepared to stay.
“I am pleased with you,” said the Beast. “As you have come of your own accord, you may stay. As for you, old man,” he added, “at sunrise to-morrow you will leave. You must never expect to see my palace again.”
Turning to Beauty he said, “Take your father to next room and help him choose everything you think your brothers and sisters would like to have. You will find two traveling trunks there; fill them as full as you can. It is only just that you should send them something very precious as a remembrance of yourself.”
In the next room, they filled the chests with dazzling jewels, gold, and dresses fit for a queen. The merchant said that the Beast must be mocking them, knowing that this was too much for him to carry home, but Beauty answered, “Let us wait and see. I cannot believe that he meant to deceive us.”
Once finished, they returned to the little room, where, they found breakfast waiting. The merchant ate his food. The Beast’s generosity lead him to believe that he might come back soon and see Beauty. However, Beauty felt sure that her father was leaving her forever, and was very sad when it was time to go.
He departed on 2 horses. One carried him and the other carried the trunks. Beauty began to cry as soon as she lost sight of him. She wandered back to her own room and found that she was very sleepy. She lay down and instantly fell asleep. As she slept she dreamed that she was walking by a brook bordered with trees. She was lamenting her sad fate, when a handsome prince, walked over and said to her, “Ah, Beauty! You are not so unfortunate as you suppose. You will be rewarded for all you have suffered elsewhere. Your every wish shall be gratified. Only try to find me out, no matter how I may be disguised, as I love you dearly, and in making me happy you will find your own happiness. Be as true-hearted as you are beautiful, and we shall have nothing left to wish for.” “What can I do, Prince, to make you happy?” asked Beauty. “Only be grateful,” he answered, “and do not trust too much to your eyes. And, above all, do not desert me until you have saved me from my cruel misery.”
Then she thought she found herself in a room with a stately and beautiful lady who said to her: “Dear Beauty, try not to regret all you have left behind you, for you are destined to a better fate. Only do not let yourself be deceived by appearances.”
Beauty woke, mystified by her dreams. She finished her breakfast and sat down on the sofa. She wondered if the horrible Beast kept the prince captive here and how she could set him free. She wondered why both the lady and the prince told her to not trust appearances and decided that she did not understand it. It was only a dream that she should not trouble herself over. Then, she went to find something to amuse herself.
She began to explore various rooms. One was lined with mirrors. In it, a bracelet with a portrait of her unknown prince was hanging from a chandelier. Delighted, she put the bracelet on and went on to a gallery of pictures where she found a portrait of the Prince. Next, was a room of beautiful musical instruments. Then, an amazing library. Finally, the candles in diamond and ruby candlesticks were beginning to light themselves in every room. Because it was dusk Beauty decided to return to the dining room. Her supper served just when she was hungry, but no one was there. She thought it was dull to have supper alone.
Presently, she heard the Beast coming and wondered if he meant to eat her up now.
However, he only gruffly said, “Good-evening, Beauty,” She managed to answer him cheerfully. The Beast asked her how she had been amusing herself and she told him about all of the rooms she had seen.
Then he asked if she thought she could be happy in his palace. She answered that everything was so beautiful that she would be very hard to please if she could not be. And, after about an hour’s talk Beauty started to think that the Beast was not as terrible as she thought he was. Lastly, he got up to leave, and said in a gruff voice, “Do you love me, Beauty? Will you marry me?”
“What should I say?” exclaimed Beauty, as she was afraid to make the Beast angry by refusing.
“Say yes or no without fear,” he replied. “Oh! No, Beast,” said Beauty hastily. “Since you will not, good-night, Beauty,” he said. She answered, “Good-night, Beast,” very glad to find that her refusal had not provoked him.
Once asleep her unknown Prince said to her, “Ah, Beauty! Why are you so unkind to me? I fear I am fated to be unhappy form many a long day still.”
When the morning came her first thought was to look at the portrait to see if it really looked like him. She found that it certainly did.
Next, she went to the garden. Every place in the garden seemed familiar. She came to a brook where the myrtle trees were growing, and she had first met the Prince in her dream. This made her think even more that he must be kept a prisoner by the Beast.
When tired, she returned to the palace. There she saw an aviary full of rare birds so tame that that they flew to her as soon as they saw her and perched on her shoulders and head. She said, “Pretty creatures. I wish your cage was nearer to my room, that I might often hear you sing!”
No sooner had she said this than she opened a door and found that it lead into her own room, which she thought was on the other side of the palace.
That evening, the Beast paid her his usual visit at supper and asked her the same questions as before. Then, with a gruff “good-night” he took his leave. She continued to dream of her mysterious Prince and her days passed swiftly in different amusements.
Every evening the Beast came to her and asked her in his terrible voice, “Beauty, will you marry me?”
After a while, Beauty felt like she understood him better. When she said, “No, Beast,” he left very sad. However her dreams of the handsome Prince made her forget the Beast. The only thing that disturbed her was being constantly told to not trust appearances, to let her heart guide her, and not her eyes, and many other confusing things which she did not understand even though she tried.
Things went on like this for a while, until, even though she was happy, Beauty began to miss her family. Seeing her sadness, the Beast asked her what was wrong. Beauty was no longer afraid of him, and knowing that he was really gentle in spite of his looks and voice, she answered that she longed to see her home once more. The Beast seemed very sad and distressed and said, “Beauty, have you the heart to desert and unhappy Beast like this? What more do you need to make you happy? Do you wish to escape because you hate me?”
“No, dear Beast,” she answered softly, “I do not hate you, and I would be very sorry never to see you anymore, but I long to see my father again. Only let me go for two months, and I promise to come back and stay for the rest of my life.”
The doleful Beast replied, “I cannot refuse you anything you ask, even though it should cost me my life. Take everything that you wish to take with you, but remember your promise to come back when two months are over, or you may have cause to repent it, for you may find your faithful Beast to be dead. To come back, turn this ring round upon your finger and say firmly: ‘I wish to go back to my palace and see my Beast again.’ Good night, Beauty. Fear nothing, sleep peacefully, and before long you shall see your father once more.”
Beauty did this, but could hardly sleep for joy.
When she finally began to dream of her beloved Prince she was grieved to see him stretched upon a grassy bank, sad and weary, and hardly like himself.
“What is the matter?” she exclaimed. He gave her a reproachful look and said, “How can you ask me such a question? Are you not perhaps leaving me to my death?” “Do not be sorrowful,” said Beauty; “I am only going to assure my father that I am safe and happy. I have promised the Beast faithfully that I will come back, and he would die of grief if I did not keep my word!”
“Surely you would not care?” said the Prince.“Indeed, I would be ungrateful if I did not care for such a kind Beast. I would die to save him from pain. I assure you it is not his fault that he is so ugly,” said Beauty.
Just then she was awakened by a strange sound. Someone was speaking not far away and upon opening her eyes, she found herself in a room she had never seen before, one that was not nearly as splendid as those she was used to in the Beast’s palace.
She got up and dressed hastily, saw the boxes she had packed, and, suddenly, she heard her father’s voice! She rushed out and greeted him. Her brothers and sisters were all astonished at her appearance. She listened to what had happened to them while she was away, but when they heard that she had only come back for a short time, they loudly lamented. Then, Beauty asked her father what the meaning of her strange dreams could be, and why the Prince constantly begged her not to trust to appearances. After much consideration, he answered: “You tell me yourself that this Beast, frightful as he is, loves you dearly, and deserves your love and gratitude for his gentleness and kindness; I think that the Prince must mean you to understand that you ought to reward him by doing as he wishes you to do, in spite of his ugliness.”
Beauty understood and thought that he was probably right. Still, she did not feel inclined to marry the Beast when she thought about her dear, handsome, Prince. However, for 2 months, she did not decide, but spent time with her sisters. Beauty found that nothing amused her very much even though they lived in town again. She often thought of the palace, where she was happy, especially since she never once dreamed of her dear Prince while at home and was quite sad without him.
Her sisters, who were used to being without her, thought she was in the way. If it were not for her father and brothers, who grieved at the thought of her leaving and begged her to stay, she would not be sorry to leave when 2 months were over. Every day she thought of saying good bye to them that night, but changed her mind in the evening, until one night, a dismal dream helped her make up her mind. She dreamed she was wandering on a lonely path in the palace gardens, when she heard groans coming from bushes hiding the entrance of a cave. Running quickly to see what could be the matter, she found the Beast stretched out upon his side, apparently dying. He reproached her faintly with being the cause of his distress At the same moment, a stately lady appeared, and said very gravely, “Beauty you are only just in time to save his life. See what happens when people do not keep their promises! If you had delayed one day more, you would have found him dead.”
Beauty was so upset by this dream that the next morning she announced her intention to go back at once, and that night said good-by to her father, brothers, and sisters. As soon as she was in bed, she turned her ring round upon her finger and said firmly, “I wish to go back to my palace and see my Beast again.”
She fell asleep instantly and woke up to a clock. She was in the palace once more. Beauty was anxious to see the Beast again, but, when supper time arrived, the Beast did not appear. She was so worried, she ran down into the garden to search for him. She went up and down paths and avenues calling him in vain. Then, she saw the shady path she had seen in her dream. She rushed down it, and sure enough, there was a cave and in it lay the Beast. Beauty thought he was asleep and ran up and stroked his head, but, to her horror, he did not move or open his eyes.
Beauty cried bitterly and said, “Oh! He is dead and it is all my fault!” Then, she noticed that he looked like he may still be breathing and ran to fetch some water from the nearest fountain. She sprinkled it over his face and he began to revive.
“Beast! How you frightened me!” she sobbed. “I never knew how much I loved you until just now.”
“Can you really love such an ugly creature?” said the Beast faintly. “You only came just in time. I was dying because I thought you had forgotten your promise. But go back now and rest, I shall see you again by and by.”
Beauty was reassured by his gentle voice and went back to the palace where dinner awaited her. Later, Beast ate dinner with her as usual, and they talked about the time she had spent with her father.
Beauty told him all that had happened to her. Then, when at last the time came for him to go, and he asked, he had so often asked before, “Beauty, will you marry me?” She answered softly, “Yes, dear Beast.”
As she spoke a blaze of light sprang up before the windows of the palace; fireworks crackled and across the avenue of orange trees, in letters all made of fireflies, was written: “Long live the Prince and his Bride.”