ROBIN MCKINLEY'S VERSION - BEAUTY
Robin McKinley’s novel titled ‘Beauty’ considers the life of a girl who was named Honour at birth, but acquires the nickname Beauty. She finds this nickname to be quite ironic as she herself is not beautiful. She is short, has blemished skin and is quite ordinary when compared to her older sisters Hope and Grace. After her father- a wealthy merchant, loses his shipping business in the city, her family moves to the countryside to live in a more basic manner and for Hope's husband, Ger, to be the town's blacksmith. Early in the story, Beauty’s father returns to the city to tie some up loose ends of his business. Upon returning from the city, father becomes lost in the forest. He stumbles upon a huge mansion that conveniently welcomes him in a spooky manner. After father recovers, he begins to leave the castle and stumbles upon a rose garden. He picks a rose for Beauty, and all of a sudden, a giant, ferocious Beast appears and accuses father of trespassing and stealing from him after he has provided him with kind hospitality. The Beast demands that his life will be over in one month if he does not return with one of his daughters.
After father is released from the Beasts terrifying encounter, he stumbles home, afraid and worse for ware. He explains his story to his three daughters Hope, Grace and Beauty and expresses his fears. Beauty volunteers to take her fathers position and live with the Beast. After arriving at the mansion, the Beast could not be any more hospitable and gentle; he clearly cares for Beauty and does not wish to strike fear in her. Soon enough, Beauty begins to hear voices from 'the wind' and receives a helping hand from materialistic belongings within the mansion. Initially, Beauty is not sure what to do with the voices that she hears, but as time passes, she seeks comfort in them. Beauty begins to spend more time in the beast’s presence, walking her horse Greatheart and chatting. Beauty begins to warm to the Beast and looks forward to spending time with him.
The beast shares with Beauty a way of seeing her family. When she looks in the water she see’s Robbie- her sister Grace's supposedly dead fiancé and seeks to reunite the two of them. She pleads with the Beast to let her go and promises that she will return. The Beast obliges but informs her that if she does not return in seven days he will die. Beauty travels home, reunites with her family, although her ‘home’ no longer feels like home anymore. Beauty returns home to the mansion just in time and is relieved to be reunited with the Beast. After informing the Beast that she loves him and that she will marry him, the curse that has riddled him for 200 years lifts and she is introduced to a beautiful man. They marry in front of family and friends and all is well in the end.
After father is released from the Beasts terrifying encounter, he stumbles home, afraid and worse for ware. He explains his story to his three daughters Hope, Grace and Beauty and expresses his fears. Beauty volunteers to take her fathers position and live with the Beast. After arriving at the mansion, the Beast could not be any more hospitable and gentle; he clearly cares for Beauty and does not wish to strike fear in her. Soon enough, Beauty begins to hear voices from 'the wind' and receives a helping hand from materialistic belongings within the mansion. Initially, Beauty is not sure what to do with the voices that she hears, but as time passes, she seeks comfort in them. Beauty begins to spend more time in the beast’s presence, walking her horse Greatheart and chatting. Beauty begins to warm to the Beast and looks forward to spending time with him.
The beast shares with Beauty a way of seeing her family. When she looks in the water she see’s Robbie- her sister Grace's supposedly dead fiancé and seeks to reunite the two of them. She pleads with the Beast to let her go and promises that she will return. The Beast obliges but informs her that if she does not return in seven days he will die. Beauty travels home, reunites with her family, although her ‘home’ no longer feels like home anymore. Beauty returns home to the mansion just in time and is relieved to be reunited with the Beast. After informing the Beast that she loves him and that she will marry him, the curse that has riddled him for 200 years lifts and she is introduced to a beautiful man. They marry in front of family and friends and all is well in the end.