MU Analyzing the Virtuous Person Character of Cinderella and Beauty Discussion
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Perrault’s “Cinderella” and Mde de Beaumonde’s “Beauty and the Beast” seem to tell very similar tales. Each has a beautiful heroine who has only one parent, is despised by siblings, and by her good looks attracts the attention of an aristocrat whom she eventually marries. Each story comes with what seems to be a similar moral, or lesson to be learned.
DeBeaumont concludes her tale by writing of Beast, ”He married Beauty, and lived with her many years, and their happiness — as it was founded on virtue — was complete.” In the first moral appended to “Cinderella,” Perrault states, “Young women, in the winning of a heart, graciousness is more important than a beautiful hairdo.” Then he appends a second moral to his tale with a different emphasis, “even these[intelligence, courage, good breeding, and common sense] may fail to bring you success, without the blessing of a godfather or a godmother”. Perrault seems to be saying, “Who you know is more important than who you are. You have to be lucky.”
Analyze the characters of Cinderella and Beauty. Who is the more virtuous person? Justify your decision by considering what challenges each faced, what personal qualities they displayed, and how each won the affection of the prince she married.
