Happily after ever
"Why do princess movies always end in happily ever after?" Addie exclaimed, eyes rolling with the credits of Beauty and the Beast.
We've done an intentional job in our house skewering princess culture — maybe too intentional? — and the result is a viewership that notices anytime damsels are portrayed as helpless, princes are married without relationship, and life as portrayed as too happy.
I wasn't buying it tonight, though.
Normally I'd be right there with Addie, but I saw something different. Not only was Belle clearly amazing (self-sacrificial, well-read, independent, brave, resilient), but: As the Beast transformed into a human, and the glum landscape returned to vibrant artistry, the household objects returned to their human form, I felt a sense of wonder. It wasn't me dropping my jaw or shedding a tear, but it was definitely me going, "No, no, this is good, keep it going. I get it."
The cynic in me has dismissed "happily ever after" as a false promise, because we've seen Real Life. …
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Kevan Gilbert Notes🎶📝 to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.