OVERLAY REPORT

The title of the 1991 Disney film *Beauty and the Beast* serves as both a literal description of its protagonists and a metaphorical framework for its central theme: the idea that "true beauty is found within." ### 1. Significance in Relation to the Plot The title highlights the binary nature of the story's characters and their internal transformations. * **Literal Reference:** "Beauty" refers to **Belle** (whose name literally means "beauty" in French), and "the Beast" refers to the **cursed Prince**. The plot revolves around their collision and eventual union. * **The Subversion of "Beauty":** The film presents a "false beauty" in the character of **Gaston**. While he is physically handsome (the "Beauty" of the village), his internal character is monstrous. Conversely, the **Beast** is physically a "monster" but possesses a capacity for kindness and redemption. The plot significance lies in Belle—who is valued by her village only for her looks—being the only one who can see past the Beast's exterior. * **The Narrative Mirror:** The title functions as a mirror for the two leads. The Beast must overcome his "beastly" nature to earn love, while Belle must look beyond physical "beauty" (represented by Gaston’s advances) to find a deeper connection. This is reinforced by the **prologue**, which warns that the Prince was cursed because he had "no love in his heart," emphasizing that "Beast" is a state of soul, not just a physical form. ### 2. Direct References by Characters While the phrase "Beauty and the Beast" is the title of the film and its most famous song, it is rarely spoken as a single phrase in natural dialogue. * **Mrs. Potts (Song):** The most direct and prominent reference occurs when **Mrs. Potts** (voiced by Angela Lansbury) sings the title song during the iconic ballroom dance scene. She concludes the lyrics with the phrase: > *"Certain as the sun / Rising in the east / Tale as old as time / Song as old as rhyme / **Beauty and the Beast**."* This serves as an omniscient commentary on the nature of their relationship. * **The Narrator (Prologue):** The film begins with a voiceover (by David Ogden Stiers) that recounts the Prince's transformation. While he refers to the Prince as a "beast," he does not use the full title phrase. He concludes with the question: *"For who could ever learn to love a beast?"* * **Belle and the Beast (Epithets):** Characters frequently use the individual words from the title: * **"Beast":** Throughout the film, characters refer to the Prince simply as "The Beast" or "Master." Belle calls out, *"Beast!"* when she sees him fighting Gaston on the roof. Crucially, the Beast is **never given a human name** in the 1991 film; he is only ever identified by the title's label. * **"Beauty" (Belle):** The townspeople sing an entire opening number about Belle's physical beauty (*"a beauty but a funny girl"*), and Gaston repeatedly refers to her as the *"most beautiful girl in town."* By naming her Belle, the film makes her a living embodiment of the "Beauty" in the title. * **Gaston:** During the "Mob Song," Gaston directly references the Beast's nature to incite the villagers: *"The Beast will make off with your children! He'll come after them in the night!"* He uses the term "Beast" as a weapon to define the Prince solely by his appearance. ### Summary Detail | Aspect | Detail | | :--- | :--- | | **Title Significance** | Represents the duality of inner vs. outer beauty; foils the Beast (ugly outside/kind inside) with Gaston (handsome outside/cruel inside). | | **Direct References** | Primarily found in the lyrics of the **title song** sung by **Mrs. Potts**. | | **Dialogue Usage** | The characters use the terms "Beauty" (Belle) and "Beast" as their primary identifiers, but they do not typically say the full phrase "Beauty and the Beast" to each other in conversation. |