Beauty & the Beast

A titanic thunderstorm forced the traveling merchant to seek refuge in the old countryside manor. He met no inhabitants, and spent the night.    

It was his youngest daughter, Beauty, who requested that he bring back a beautiful flower from his travels. So, the next morning, he visited the gardens, and plucked a single rose. 

Then a terrible demon appeared and bellowed,

“Your sin of stealing from my sacred palace is a debt that must be repaid. Bring me your youngest daughter to keep - and I will not slaughter you and the rest of your bloodline.” 

When the merchant returned home with the news, all his sons and daughters blamed Beauty for their endangerment. So the youngest daughter grabbed her father’s fastest horse, and snuck away to the old manor.  

Beauty was greeted by an immaculate ceremony, dutiful servants, and dowries of the finest jewels and dresses. But eventually the day waned, the sun set, and she steeled her resolve to face the beast. 

Court of the manor lord

We’ve all had moments where we’ve felt like we were stuck between a rock and a hard place. To me, this story is about being dealt a tough hand. It’s about feeling imprisoned in the vicissitudes of life. 

I like to think Beauty finds an inner peace with the situation by accepting the moment she’s in, and taking action. She digs deep, and finds motivation in her selfless goal to save her family. 

“And the beast appeared to her. This night, and then the next. And every night he requested she be his bride. But she would always refuse. And he would always ask again. But no harm ever came to the merchant, or his family.”