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How does the Carl Jung’s theory of archetypes apply to the character of Belle within

‘La Belle Et La Bête’ (1946)?

This essay will explain how Jung’s theory of archetypes apply to Jean Cocteau’s well
known romantic fantasy film La Belle et La Bête (1946), explicitly focusing on the
archetypes that relate to character of Belle within the film. Referring to the works
of Kendra Cherry’s ‘What Are the Jungian Archetypes?’ exploring the different types
of archetypes within Jung’s theory, Enlightens video documentary on ‘Jungian
Psychology, The Animus Archetype’ (2018) exploring what the animus is and how it
can affect the female, Jerome Griswold’s book ‘The meanings of "Beauty and the
Beast"’ (2004) and how he compares the character of Belle in terms of her animus.
Including the work of Katy Huynh and her presentation ‘Beauty and the Beast
(Archetypal Criticism)’ looking at the archetypes Belle fits into within the story, and
lastly looking into the work of Keith and Marnie Elliott’s ‘Carl Jung: Man & his symbols’
focusing on the development of Belle’s archetype. The essay will explore the character
of Belle from La Belle et La Bête (1946), and how Jung’s theories relate to her
throughout the film.

La Belle et La Bête tells the story of Belle, a young maiden who serves her father,
sisters and brother. Belle is known as the most beautiful woman in the village, peaking
the interest of her brothers’ friend, Avenant. One-night Belle’s father goes out and
stumbles upon a castle he is not aware belongs to the Beast. Belle’s father goes to
take a single rose from the garden due to Belle’s request, and in doing so angers the
Beast. Instead of facing his punishment, Belle goes in his place to help save her father.
Upon her entrance the Beast is enticed with Belle and offers her his hand in marriage,
but how could Belle ever come to love a beast?

Jung is a well-known psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, who came up with the theory of
Archetypes. Jung theorised around the human psyche, distinguishing different parts
of it. He sectioned them into three components. The ego, representing one’s conscious
mind. The personal unconscious, containing the memories that are supressed, and
finally the collective unconscious, which Jung believed housed the experiences and
knowledge shared by the human species (see fig1). (K. Cherry. (2018))

Figure 1: The Power of the Unconscious Mind. (2018)


From within the collective unconscious, Jung derived the ‘persona’, the image of which
people present themselves to the world, the ‘shadow’, comprising the repressed
thoughts and anxieties a person may feel, the ‘self’ representing the unified
unconsciousness and consciousness of an individual, and the ‘anima/animus’.

The anima is within the male psyche which is the unconscious feminine side of a man,
while woman have the animus which is the masculine side of the woman’s
unconscious. These are some of the main archetypes however, there are many more
that come from a shared concept that emerge as themes and characters, they could
come from myths, legends, paintings, films and stories. (Psychologistworld.com) This
can include archetypes from basic ideas such as the Mother, which is stereotyped as
kind, loving and caring, along with the hero archetype which is derived from stories,
stereotyped as a champion, rescuer, defender, and protector.

In La Belle et La Bête (1946) “Belle is the archetypal heroine of Beauty and the Beast”
(K. Huynh 2013). This is shown through her heroic deeds, In La Belle et La Bête
(1946) Belle (Josette Day) sacrifices her life for her father, driven by the love she has
for him, trying to protect him as he is weak, which is the stereotypical perception of the
hero archetype from Jung’s theory. (see fig 2)

Figure 2: Belle taking her fathers place in the castle (1946) [Still]

Belle has a clear sense of self and persona, she sees herself as the servant of the
house hold and maintains this persona throughout the film never really changing, even
when the circumstances around her change, upon being given jewels and riches by
the Beast she is still true to herself and the persona she displays. (see fig 3)

Figure 3: Belle in her dress (1946) [Still]

The young heroine also showcases the shadow archetype. “The Beast… represents
her own animal nature which she must recognize to overcome the one-sided
development & education as a "good" person”. (K. and M. Elliot.) The Beast
represents that part of her that she hides away from as she is not able to accept it.

However. Some may argue that the Beast instead is a representation of her animus.
“In their interpretation of “Beauty and the Beast”, then, Jungian, critics see the Beast
as Beauty’s animus- as part of her personality that she has denied, and excluded, a
part that is animal-like and sexual.” (J. Griswold (2004)). This makes sense as Belle
is surrounded by male characters in both films that would affect her animus.
In the original 1946 version Belle’s animus is influenced by her father, brother, and her
brothers’ friend Avenant. Due to all these male characters having an influence on her,
Belle then fantasises and creates her idealised man. Belle gets intrigued with the idea
of a ‘bad boy’ an older man that can show her danger and adventure, letting her
escape from her day to day life. (Enlighten 2018)

The animus is said to have women desire a man who’s a leader, and a man of his
words (Enlighten (2018)) both traits are shown within Beast. In La Belle et la Bête
(1946) a specific scene applying to this would be when getting Beast’s word to let her
help her father for a week as he is sick in the 1946 version (see figure 4). Upon this
request she then ultimately ends up returning to the Beast, staying strong to strong
sense of self and persona, following her true desires (Beast).

Figure 4: Belle returning to her father (1946) [Still]

To conclude, Jung’s theory of archetypes is clearly expressed in La Belle et la Bête


(1946) with Belle representing a heroine character, doing various stereotypical heroic
acts within the film, such as saving her father by taking his place. Along with Belle love
interest also being her animus, and shadow representing that part of her personality
that she supresses and hides away from.

Harvard Illustration List

Figure 1: The Power of the Unconscious Mind. (2018). [Im age] Available at:
http://allpromindset.com/podcast-episode-32-john-goldman-the-power-of-the-
unconscious/ Last accessed 11/10/2018

Figure 2: Belle taking her father’s place in the castle (1946). [Film Still] At:
https://brendancultfilms.wordpress.com/2011/12/05/la-belle-et-la-bete1946-
jeancocteau/ Last accessed 11/10/2018

Fig. 3: Belle in her dress (1946) [Film Still] At:


https://hr19screensnapshots.wordpress.com/2012/05/13/la-belle-et-la-bete-1946/
Last accessed 11/10/2018

Figure 4: Roy. (2010). La Belle et La Bête. Available: http://legzy-


royefe.blogspot.com/2010/10/la-belle-et-la-bete.html Last accessed 12/10/2018.
Bibliography

Enlighten (2018) Jungian Psychology, The Animus Archetype [YouTube] At:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KOJl1eLO8Y&t=397s Last accessed 12/10/2018

J. Griswold. (2004). Three: Among the Critics. In: N/A ‘The Meanings of "Beauty and
the Beast"’: A Handbook. N/A: Broadview Press. 54.

K. Cherry. (2018). What Are Jung's 4 Major Archetypes? [Online] VerywellMind.


Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-jungs-4-major-archetypes-
2795439 Last accessed 11/10/2018

K. Huynh. (2013), Beauty and the Beast (Archetypal Criticism). [Online] At:
https://prezi.com/oocobgeq04i1/beauty-the-beast-archetypal-criticism/ Last accessed
11/10/2018

K. and M. Elliot. (N/A). CARL JUNG: MAN & HIS SYMBOLS. Available:
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UNG).htm Last accessed 11/10/2018.

Psychologistworld.com. (2018). How Carl Jung's Archetypes and Collective


Consciousness Affect Our Psyche. [Online] Available at:
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