Jaycee Lee Dugard was found alive in August 2009, after she had been kidnapped in 1991. It is believed that she experienced Stockholm syndrome with the man who abducted her eighteen years ago.Keith Ablow, a psychiatrist, said “To keep one’s desperation and sorrow and rage for several years would be too destructive to the human mind–so the human mind tells itself a story about safety and contentment to protect itself–that’ s the essence of Stockholm Syndrome.”
In “Beauty and the Beast”, Belle might be looked at as having established Stockholm Syndrome with the Beast because she chose to remain in the castle, even after she had actually been locked up in her room. When Gaston came to save her, Belle firmly insisted that she was happy where she was and did not wish to leave. A lot like Jaycee Lee Dugard, Belle told herself a story about security and happiness to protect herself from the reality of her situation.
It is essential to remember that Stockholm syndrome can develop under different types of situations, not just kidnap or hostage situations. In “Beauty and the Beast”, Belle was not abducted against her will, but she did feel imprisoned by the Beast. She was not physically forced to stay in the castle, but she was emotionally manipulated by the Beast.
He would often threaten to hurt her father if she tried to leave, and he would sulk or get angry whenever she expressed a desire to go home. By constantly making Belle feel guilty, the Beast was able to control her emotions and keep her prisoner in the castle.
While Jaycee Lee Dugard’s story is a tragic one, it does provide some insight into Belle’s character development in “Beauty and the Beast”. It is clear that Belle is a strong-willed person who has gone through a lot of trauma in her life. However, she has been able to overcome this trauma and emerge as a stronger person. Belle’s story is one of hope and resilience, and it serves as an excellent example of how love can overcome even the darkest of circumstances.
Stockholm syndrome has been a prominent plot device in dozens of films over the years. Charm and the Beast (Trousdale 1991) is one such film that prominently features Stockholm syndrome, yet never addresses it directly.
The French novel, Charm and the Beast, is one of world’s most renowned love stories. It teaches people to see what lies beneath the surface instead of being superficial. The movie adaptation was so good that it became the first animated film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.
However, what lots of film critics and audiences failed to detect was the extremely troubling circumstances of Stockholm syndrome that is so clearly displayed between Belle, the female lead, and the Beast, her male captor.
Throughout the film, Belle is held captive in the Beast’s castle against her will. The Beast locks her in a room, yells at her, intimidates her with his growling and size, and even threatens to kill her father if she does not cooperate. In spite of all this, Belle begins to establish sensations for the Beast. She starts to see previous his rough exterior and into his kind heart. She feels bad for him when he tells her about his life and how he was cursed. By the end of the film, Belle is so deeply in love with the Beast that she is willing to sacrifice her own life to save him.
This is a extremely troubling scenario, as it suggests that even if a male terrorizes and mistreats a female, she will ultimately succumb to his charms and fall in love with him. It sends out an incredibly harmful message, particularly to young girls who are just discovering love. It suggests that no matter how badly a man treats you, you will ultimately forgive him and learn to love him. This film seriously romanticizes Stockholm syndrome, and encourages girls to stay in abusive relationships.
What’s even more bothersome is the fact that this film has been beloved by audiences for years, and no one has ever picked up on the troubling message it sends. It’s time for film critics and audiences alike to take a closer look at Charm and the Beast, and see the film for what it really is: a dangerous love story that encourages young girls to stay in abusive relationships.
Despite its success, no one has actually addressed what type of love story Disney is promoting with Beauty and the Beast. The film does not reveal a story of real love and admiration of inner appeal, but rather promotes the idea of Stockholm syndrome and falling in love with your captor.
Stockholm syndrome is a condition that causes hostages to develop a psychological alliance with their captors as a survival strategy during captivity. This film’s story line closely relates to this definition in many ways. First, let’s take a more detailed look at the film.
Beauty and the Beast is a film about a young woman named Belle who is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. The beast imprisons her in his castle, but she eventually begins to see the good in him and falls in love with him. Although the film has a happy ending, the story line promotes the idea of falling for your captor, which is not an healthy message for children.
There are several points in the film that suggest Stockholm Syndrome is at play. One key point is when Belle begins to feel sympathy for the Beast after he saves her from a pack of wolves. Another is when she starts to see the good in him and eventually falls in love with him.
While some may argue that Belle’s feelings for the Beast are genuine, it is important to consider the context of their relationship. The Beast has imprisoned Belle in his castle against her will. He threatened her with violence if she did not comply with his demands. In addition, he regularly terrorized and belittled her. Given this context, it is not surprising that Belle would develop feelings of Stockholm Syndrome for her captor.
The film Beauty and the Beast fails to promote a healthy message of love and admiration for inner beauty. Instead, it promotes the idea of Stockholm syndrome and falling for your abductor. This is not a positive message for children, or for anyone for that matter. If you are looking for a film that promotes a healthier view of love, you would be better off watching something else.