Why Gaston Obsessed Over Belle - Disney's Beauty and the Beast Analysis | The Fangirl

Disney's Beauty and the Beast turns 30 this year, so it's a great time for a video essay on why Gaston was so obsessed with Belle (and eventually the Beast).
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#disney #beautyandthebeast #gaston #belle #disneyplus #TheFangirl

[@nationalinstituteofcheese3012]

Gaston is a rare type of villain who doesn’t want to take over the world or destroy Christmas, but is one that a lot of people have met before. A creepy jerk who‘s entitled and isn’t afraid to hurt people to get what he wants.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

A malignant narcissist - yes, I agree!

[@cjmob123]

I agree 🤣🤣

[@anjie-kun4evur20]

Exactly! Like a true life type of villian.

[@cjmob123]

@@anjie-kun4evur20 one reason why I like Gaston 👍

[@senorstyx3011]

@@TheFangirlWatches would belle have been better off a spinster begging on the street , which was the reality of that time (thus why arranged marriages were a practice of many cultures and places in the world)?

[@robby7499]

He's so used to the town singing his praises, he likely can't fathom that Belle would be the sole exception. Or he could see it the same way he does his hunting: Belle an elusive target that is a challenge for the hunter.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

Exactly!

[@elphieb3538]

I think it's both

[@robby7499]

@@elphieb3538 Yeah; hunting and the fact he is a narcissistic jerk. Her not falling for his wiles strikes a huge blow to his immense ego.

[@michaelmcdonnell3905]

Problem was Gaston wasn't Belle's type, she was into a different kind of handsome, something that went deeper than big muscles or tall, dark and handsome.

[@10RexTheWolf01]

I wanna say both but it feels like the latter is just a well made excuse for the former.

[@silverstarlightproductions1292]

Gaston didn't go after Adam (the Beast) just for the thrill of the hunt though. He was also jealous because he caught on to the fact that Belle deeply cared for him, and that was a major blow to his ego. Why on earth would the most beautiful girl in town care more for a hideous Beast than a dashing hunter such as himself? I do agree with your overall analysis though. Gaston went after Belle simply because she was the one girl he couldn't have.

[@JStryker47]

Then there's the bit with him actually attacking Beast and telling him, "Belle is mine!" Which is also what finally motivates Beast to fight back.

[@WatermeIon_juice]

The beast caught his prey before he could

[@danieljosephbestguy5990]

​​​​​@@JStryker47yeah originally it was "Time to Die!" the line he said which then got replaced because the creators thought it would be too dark in a kids film despite it being said in practically 50% of kids films nowadays in every showdown between a hero and villain and once you know that original line you'll notice that what he mouths isn't what is actually said in the finished film because it wasn't reanimated. Though really that finished line is a lot more powerful because he already stated clearly before that he was going to kill the Beast with the mob at his side, but it served to reinforce the fact that he was still obsessed with Belle inside like most egomaniacs are with the one hot girl they know they can't have so he was willing to do anything to kill the Beast or the one she supposedly loved so he at least didn't have to feel that envy because his pride is what most mattered to him.

[@MrDannymations54]

Yeah exactly I'm pretty sure that is the case and also Belle could see right through that brave handsome male bravado is just a straight up narcissist and bully who always gets what he wants While Adam has changed and improved after encountering Belle and Maurice

[@Babylon2060]

Well, it started as a rescue mission before he found out Bell was into animals 😂😂

[@Rosemont104]

Interestingly enough, in an earlier version of the story, Belle's nasty aunt wanted her to marry Gaston so that their family would get richer and more socially accepted.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

Interesting! I hadn't heard that version!

[@AlexanderJWF]

@@TheFangirlWatches There are so many versions from throughout Europe - there's one where Gaston is Belle's uncle. One where the Beast is Belle's cousin. And one where Belle's mother was the one to cast the curse. And these were all tales told to children to teach them how to br stand up individuals... Them wacky feudal folks and their "blood purity" incest! 😅

[@Rosemont104]

@@AlexanderJWF Wow! I should've been clearer in that I meant an early version of the Disney story since there some videos going around about a "pilot" version or something, which had a nice little sister and a more foppish Gaston.

[@YellowBear-kx1ff]

@@Rosemont104 I know that version. Belle’s aunt was called Marguerite and was based on Beauty’s wicked sisters from the fairytale. I also think she was the one who killed Belle’s mother in that version.

[@ponygirl4441]

Didn't Belle originally had a nice little sister before? Like the Disney movie I mean.

[@GuineaPig361]

I think money's involved, too--Belle wears blue, a fairly expensive color, and she and Gaston have the biggest places in town. Gaston wants money that Maurice is saving for Belle, Maurice wants Gaston to keep Belle safe. Belle understands this, but her desire to marry for love is more important to her.

[@kimberleeroberts9873]

When do they show Gaston’s place?

[@GuineaPig361]

@@kimberleeroberts9873 I'm referring to the tavern, and if the tavern looks nice, he likely has a nice house, too.

[@kimberleeroberts9873]

@@GuineaPig361 Yeah good point. I agree

[@Nightman221k]

I really don’t think Belle and Maurice are better off financially than Gaston. Maurice is a humble inventor who sounds like he never won a blue ribbon yet, where as Gaston’s tavern is the most popular gathering place in their village.

[@GuineaPig361]

@@Nightman221k True; I was just noticing that Maurice has his own fairly big house. He doesn't have a lot of money, but enough to maintain a solid life.

[@tayloredwards4968]

I think Claude frollo even worse. Not only was he obsessed with Esmeralda. He tried to kill her. When she made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

Judge Frollo is definitely a darker villain (and also voiced by the asylum runner in BatB!) because he would burn down the entire city to save face.

[@princessG313]

Also add the fact he is a religious extremist that thinks she's either a demonic sirian sent by the devil and needs to be destroyed or a gift from god due to him being pius and righteous servent. Frollo is definitely the 1 villain

[@vetarlittorf1807]

@@princessG313 I somewhat agree. He saw Esmeralda as an unholy seductress and was obsessed with her because of her beauty. He wanted to have her because he believed he could "save" her by making her his mistress since he believed he was a holy man and the city's salvation. It makes him an interesting foil to Quasimodo, who also admired Esmeralda's beauty (though in Quasi's case, it was just a harmless crush, not an obsession) and desperately wanted to be with her. But unlike Frollo, Quasi accepted that he cannot have her and respects her right to follow her own path to happiness.

[@princessG313]

@@vetarlittorf1807 definitely agree!

[@NormalWinterFox]

You’ll have a field day when or if you read the original novel 🙃 though I think you already know

[@LowellLucasJr.]

Why was Gaston after Belle? Me: She's Hot, Thoughtful, Beautiful and looks beyond appearances! Gaston: I'm into Brunettes that can sing!

[@sophiehale1171]

Lol

[@jenniferschillig3768]

Reminds me of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn: she was the only woman who'd ever dared to say no to him, so that made him all the more determined to have her--to the point of shaking the foundations of the country, the monarchy, and eventually the Church. And once he DID have to deal with her as a wife instead of an unattainable ideal, well... And don't forget Henry was very fond of the hunt as well. In fact, the poet Thomas Wyatt, a cousin of Anne's who was said to have a crush on her, wrote a poem comparing her to a wild deer hunted by the King: "Noli me tangere (do not touch me), for Caesar's I am/And wild for to hold, though I seem tame."

[@CinnamonGrrlErin1]

Regarding the triplets, it could be a class issue for Gaston to want to marry Belle over them. It isn't specified in the movie, but it seems implied that Belle and her father moved to the village after losing their money (like in the original story). So even if she's poor, her background could still be good enough for an ambitious country guy (is Gaston a landowner? He has to be at least minor nobility if he has hunting rights), whereas the triplets are probably not as highly desirable for marriage.

[@GuineaPig361]

Not to mention the triplets' dresses imply they're prostitutes--just compare their designs with the harem girls in Aladdin.

[@CinnamonGrrlErin1]

@@GuineaPig361 and traditionally, prostitutes were often the only women seen in taverns, except the tavernkeeper's wife maybe.

[@rf3162]

I always saw it as the hunter in him. He was used to all the beautiful girls chasing him. Belle being completely different. She was beautiful but also completely indifferent to him. He saw that as a challenge and pursued.

[@rf3162]

@@CinnamonGrrlErin1 It is also just as traditional for twins and triplets to dress the same because they are a set. A big pass time of sets is to dress the same just to confuse people for their shared amusement. It doesn't always mean they are Prostitutes.

[@GuineaPig361]

@@rf3162 I'm referring specifically to the low necklines and tight bodices of their dresses. No one else in the village dresses like that.

[@ccormore]

I don't think Gaston lost interest in Belle towards the end. He snapped when he saw Belle looking at the Beast with love, which is why he took the mirror from her hands and wanted to kill the beast. Also, in the end, he says "Belle is mine!" He never stopped wanting her, I believe.

[@jorgebersabe293]

Beast and Gaston end up switching roles at the climax: Beast regains his humanity, Gaston turns more animalistic.

[@fablethewolf825]

I lot of people _love_ to downplay his crimes and claim he's actually the better one for Belle over the Beast. These people worry me because they legit see nothing wrong with getting the sole guardian of their crush locked up and openly using that guardian's freedom as a bargaining chip to force obedience from an obviously uninterested person.

[@oooh19]

Yea and there are still plenty of people like this now which is terribly scary!

[@nobinary2296]

I agree. The fact that Gaston FREQUENTLY didn't take the opportunity to do the right thing should have been a clue. When Maurice said, "A beast! A horrible, monstrous, beast!" My first thought wouldn't have been that it was a literal "beast" because when I hear the words dungeon and someone being locked up in one? My LITERAL last thought is a magical beast man capturing an innocent girl. I would think figurative. As in the person was so horrible and monstrous that the father called them a "Beast". He was displaying narcissistic, abusive, manipulative, and gaslighting behavior. He never even ASKED for her hand in marriage. He never even had the decency of asking Belle herself. He planned the wedding, which had to be months in advance, considering the band and catering + the wedding guests. He also saw Belle and Maurice were missing. It's at this point ANY rational person would think something was wrong. Especially when the father claimed their daughter was captured. He should've gone LOOKING for Belle. But never did. He then concocted a plan to have his "Father in law" arrested unless Belle married him. Again. Another bad decision. I mean even if it worked why would he think it would turn out well?? I mean everyone knows what he did. It's shocking they all went with it. I DON'T understand why anyone would argue Gaston was the better choice. If he acts this way now? Imagine how horrible it would be for Belle behind closed doors. After all... He obviously doesn't like being told no and often was seen using force/manipulation to get his way. People like to say, "If they show you who they are? Believe them! Run!" So let's take that advice and run from the suggestion of Gaston.

[@nanalove3819]

@@nobinary2296 Exactly. Gaston became worst and worst through the story, and is worst than the Beast.

[@crimsoncourt9354]

Bruh, you say Gaston lock her father up as "bargaining chip" to force obedience, as if beast didn't do the exact same thing. But unlike beast's selfish and insecure reasoning, Gaston's motive is clear from the beginning, that is he cares about her. Even from the very beginning, he warns her not to get too stuck on books and live in fantasy land. And instead of taking this advice, she called Gaston evil, despite everything Gaston had contributed to the town folks. Meanwhile Gaston had worked really hard for the town folks, Belle had done nothing, and yet she believes that she's better than him and that she deserves more, an even "better" husband, some prince (as stated in her song). This proved Gaston's point correct, as instead of pursuing something realistic and beneficial to her and the people around her, she ended up expecting silly fantasies to become reality. She decided that she, someone who had done nothing, ever, for the town, is on a higher league than the town's hero. That she's somehow on the princess and princes league. She then got some Stockholm Syndrome and fell in love with the evil beast.

[@NalaxSimba]

@@crimsoncourt9354 lmao Gaston doesn't care about Belle. He was willing to lock her father in an asylum as a bargaining chip, he tried to forcefully kiss her, forcefully marry her & tried to invalidate her hobby. sounds to me like someone related a little bit too much to Gaston. Beast didn't lock up Maurice as a bargaining chip, he did it as punishment for Maurice trespassing. He didn't know Maurice had a daughter who would come looking for him, and Belle made the choice to stay by herself🙄 you sound misogynistic

[@bertkesurf]

Absolutely, Gaston wanted what he couldn't have. It was all ego stroking for him. I'd put money on it that if Belle had married him, he would have cheated on her and/or left at some point because he was bored.

[@vetarlittorf1807]

I don't know if he'd have cheated on her. The reason he wanted Belle is because he was looking for a trophy wife to bear children for him and use Belle's beauty to elevate his social status and ego.

[@anaemiliaalmeida7238]

Just like it would be if Robert Baratheon had married Lyanna Stark in ASOIAF!!!!

[@bertkesurf]

@@anaemiliaalmeida7238 ASOIAF?

[@anaemiliaalmeida7238]

@@bertkesurf The original novels of Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

[@anaemiliaalmeida7238]

"A Song of Ice and Fire"

[@YellowBear-kx1ff]

Do you think Gaston represents the negative side of the classic Prince Charming?

[@CinnamonGrrlErin1]

That's possible. He's also definitely inspired by Brom Bones from the Sleepy Hollow cartoon.

[@sophiehale1171]

Yeah

[@alpyki2588]

That's probably what they were going for. If I remember right from behind the scenes stuff I've seen for the movie, they were even trying to cast an actor which fit that sort of appeal.

[@rareponyfan8000]

Absolutely

[@jorgebersabe293]

Gaston is actually a deconstruction of the classical Disney Hero: Gaston clearly has the attributes to be one, as he is handsome, strong, charismatic and beloved by his hometown, tries to woo the lovely maiden and tries to rescue her from the monster. But all those qualities gave him a lot of ego and feels entitled to Belle. Gaston looks the part of the hero, but he doesn't act the part.

[@WaitingxInxSilence]

In the stage version, Belle’s mother was some sort of noblewoman- “you are your mother’s daughter, therefore you are class” so it could be a class thing.

[@fynchan11]

he had many possibilities for redemption: - ASKING her father for her hand - ASKING HER - trying for her in normal way (getting to know her ect) - saving her from the Beast in the beginning

[@jorgebersabe293]

-Not believing that he is entitled to sex just for being superficially polite.

[@theecourtofmadness]

Although I don't think Maurice would have told Gaston he can marry Belle in so many words, he DOES seem like the type to say he would give his blessing if Belle WANTED to marry him. He's well aware of how smart his daughter is, and Gaston wouldn't have been listening after the yes.

[@LadyEvilest]

My take? Some time before the events of the film, Gaston asked Maurice for his daughter's hand and he was all "Well, if it's what she wants." and Gaston assumed that meant yes. After all, who wouldn't want him?

[@raven6565]

I always assumed Gaston wanted Belle because she was the only woman to ever tell him no. Similar to when you tell a child they can't have something it results in them sometimes wanting it even more, almost irrationally so sometimes. As for the triplets, I assumed he wasn't into blondes and that because they didn't present a challenge, he didn't want them.

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

Personally I think Belle has qualities that he doesn't have, and he wants to claim them for himself. He would be abusive, he would *take* everything from her and use her to puff himself up.

[@raven3067]

Gaston is like the highschool jock stereotype.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

That's fair.

[@Featheryfaith7]

He kind of reminds me of Lucifer. The beast and Gaston are two sides of the same coin, if you really want to think about it.

[@sophiehale1171]

Yeah

[@balanc-joy9187]

I'd call him more what the high school jock bully types _think_ they'll grow up to _be_ (in an old world setting at least), though they often don't. Also just misogynistic and primitive minded men in general too from what I've seen. Of course, the movie demonstrates that even having big muscles, being handsome, and strong and having impressive skill doesn't win you the _whole_ world, you have to actually _care_ about people too.

[@jorgebersabe293]

@@Featheryfaith7 Both Beast and Gaston started out the very same way: Spoiled, selfish, unkind without any love in their hearts. Also both are temperamental, vain, conceited and arrogant, with a tendency to look down on those they deem beneath them. -Beast is everything Gaston likes about himself, taken to the extreme. Gaston is everything Beast despises about himself, taken to the extreme. -Gaston represents the kind of person the Beast would have turned into if he was never cursed.

[@cristyflaherty4902]

Another thing with Gaston seeing the Beast as better prey is Belle was in love with him so the beast was going to catch the prey Gaston was going for.

[@thedelordhimselfgokublack]

So it’s like both of them are hunters . But one is a human and the other is a lion. The hunter stops chasing the buck and focuses on the lion as he is a threat

[@vetarlittorf1807]

I just assumed that it was because she was the prettiest girl in town and as such he thought she was the most worthy candidate of bearing children for him. And also because he's a narcissist and couldn't let go of her after she rejected him.

[@red_velvetcake1759]

He is 100% an overt narcissist

[@debymello4756]

Not just children, sons. God forbid she have girls

[@vetarlittorf1807]

@@debymello4756 I don't think he cared about that. Because either way, him having children means he'll have a legacy to boost his ego. Although a son would mean he could have his own Gaston 2.0. Whereas a daughter would mean he'd raise her to submit to the patriarchy and once she's 16 (the legal adult age back then) he would try to find her a suitable husband to keep the cycle going. The point of Gaston is that he's such a narcissist that he'll do anything to immortalize himself and he was only obsessed with Belle because she's a perfect physical specimen to expand his lineage. Which actually gives his death some poetic justice because his life ambitions were what caused him to die alone and forgotten.

[@michaelmcdonnell3905]

Likes dark haired or brown haired girls?

[@stevenhiggins3055]

@@vetarlittorf1807 He explicitly specifies "strapping boys, like me" when he proposes to her.

[@michaeloluwajuyemi4546]

I also wondered why Gaston never went after one of the blonde girls when watching the movie as a kid. Now that Descendants 2 came out, we know that Gaston married one of the blonde girls.

[@bobsburgers8497]

Gaston died at the end of the movie

[@nightshade189]

@@bobsburgers8497 I wouldn’t be surprised if the dude got freaky with one of the blonde girls before his whole wedding scheme in the movie. Just a theory though.

[@stingerjohnny9951]

@@nightshade189 I think it’s subtly implied they are women of the night who simply have the hots for Gaston, so I could see it.

[@alpyki2588]

I don't know if I consider Descendants anymore cannon than my crack theories.

[@joshualowe959]

The way Gaston was obsessed with Belle is similar to how Frollo was obsessed with Esmeralda in Hunchback of Notre Dame.

[@squeaktheswan2007]

Yo, I read somewhere that Belle is supposed to be 17. How old is Gaston supposed to be? He certainly doesn't look like he's a teenager, and while the beast is around 20 to 21, it's not nearly as worrisome as however old Gaston is supposed to be.

[@Kelsey1987]

I read somewhere that Gaston is supposed to be around 25 -30 which is weird af that he’s going after a 17 yr old

[@squeaktheswan2007]

@@Kelsey1987 Oh, ok. Well that's a bit odd.

[@smashley4661]

@@Kelsey1987 It was common in that time period and all of human history for teenage girls around Belle’s age to be married to older men. It’s worse in Islamic countries were little girls younger than 10 to bed wedded off to a full grown man 😬. It’s bad over there. Going back to my original point it would make sense to the girls parents to have her married to an older man who was rich and if the man wanted children it would also make sense to go after a girl who is in her prime childbearing years.

[@alexiacaceda1421]

Belle is 17 in the first script made for the movie but in the final version she is in her early 20s according to the producers

[@DiscoTimelordASD]

Given women married up for status and men wanted the most heirs back then, I'm guessing that a 17 year old woman would have been at an acceptable age. Just guessing here.

[@whitechocolateman1088]

Thanks for this! I started watching "Neo-Gaston" content that thinks Gaston is redeemable and Belle is an evil witch. That stuff was brain-rotting. This is refreshingly sensible.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

WHAT?!?! That sounds insane! Who would make that content?!

[@whitechocolateman1088]

@@TheFangirlWatches Yeah, it's nuts. John Doyle was the channel, though I recommend you don't check him out. Really.

[@whitechocolateman1088]

@shortnstuby I felt the same way. And to think, he has an audience.

[@tfvk7632]

That was showing up for me too, although I'm not sure why. In my opinion, there is just no way that Gaston's behavior is justifiable!

[@woobiefuntime]

@@TheFangirlWatches John Doyle .

[@themisfitowl2595]

Actually, yes Gaston had a perfect reason to see Belle's beauty as something to be desired, over the local girls. He explains to Belle how when she's his wife, there will be a rustic home with "the little ones" playing on the floor. Specifically "strapping young boys" like he was. Not only was Belle a challenging trophy wife to him, but he clearly saw her as "good breeding stock" for his future lineage to carry on. He would want the most beautiful girl in town, to ensure that she gave him beautiful strapping young boys to become mini clones of himself. And his attitude is, "She's the lucky girl I've chosen to marry." as though it were a great gift to receive. His narcissism doesn't even register her as a person at all. Also I doubt Maurice had any forewarning, because Gaston is such a predatory abuser. The first thing he does is try to isolate Belle from her father and make Belle dependent solely on Gaston alone. This also happens when he learns about Beast as it's clear that the Beast is competition for Belle's affection. Competition that Gaston wants eliminated so he immediately goes after Beast to ensure that Belle will have nobody else to turn to but Gaston. He attempted to eliminate both of the male influences in her life, so he would be the only one. Gaston is a classic narcissist, and predator. He saw Belle as property, not as a person.

[@VR-uv9dt]

Thank God somebody said it!! That's precisely what I think in every detail.

[@themisfitowl2595]

@@VR-uv9dt Why thank you! 😄 I've always found the psychology of the Disney villain to be a fascinating subject. To me it's the villains that don't rely on magic, the ones that are cruel and manipulative and exhibit traits of real life predators, they are the scariest, the most chilling to me. And Gaston is right there with them.

[@VR-uv9dt]

@@themisfitowl2595 Definitely! He is the scariest Disney villain after Frollo.

[@themisfitowl2595]

@@VR-uv9dt OMG Frollo was downright nasty! Such a fantastic character! I was always creeped out by Clayton from Tarzan, Scar from the Lion King, and the Wicked Stepmother from Cinderella too.

[@thedelordhimselfgokublack]

Didn’t you watch the video? Gaston wanted to hunt the beast and stopped caring about Belle once he discovered the beast was real

[@tayloredwards4968]

I love Gaston. I think he's one of the best Disney villains ever. But definitely he is a total creep. Especially what he'll do to get Belle.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

What makes Gaston great is that he could literally be anyone.

[@ollllj]

Gaston is actually a pretty good protagonist, especially because of his mild flaws (obsessions). Even if we assume the most primitive/worst motivations for gastons actions, they are still far more practical and morally superior than the best motivations of the beast. This makes more sense in the context of its time, where women where much less independent. The beast is literally the story antagonist, almost completely flawed, and worse than gaston in every way, from the start of the story, till the end of the story. The story is just a tragedy, and belle needs to leave this abusive relationship. You are literally refusing the best hunter that feeds the town to better health, and instead chose to be imprisoned by the beast, that is quite close to the morale levels of Joseph Fritzl (you are welcome to googling that, it kinda fits the narrative)

[@captainmarvelwilson508]

@@ollllj Wrong! Gaston is not the protagonist and the Beast is not the antagonist, and the Beast is not at all worse in every way, that would perfectly fit Gaston who gradually gets worse. The Beast slowly gets better overtime. The Beast felt that he was irredeemable and not capable of doing good, before finding out that he was wrong. Gaston becomes way worse due to his entitlement to the town and his constant obsession with Belle. His obsessions were not mild. Maybe they start off that way, but they got progressively worse, when Belle rejects his marriage proposal. It is not Belle’s fault, Gaston was already becoming more potentially abusive as the story goes on from disregarding her love for literature, to having a marriage thrown without her consent, to blackmailing her into a marriage by having her father thrown into an insane asylum, to rallying the town to kill the Beast due to Belle’s feelings for him. The Beast on the other hand started off mean and rude, but was more on the bratty side, and there were subtle signs that he was understanding how Belle feels for what he has done. He screws up a lot until the moment when he ends up driving her away when she visits the West Wing, and feels bad for what he has done, which leads him to rush and save her from the wolves. Then he feels a sense of good when he feels something for her and decides to show her his library, which he put a lot of thought into. He also spared Gaston when he could have sent him falling, and he did it without Belle telling him to. Saying that Belle rejecting some hunter is wrong is like saying quitting smoking is wrong.

[@ollllj]

@@captainmarvelwilson508 okay, there sure is character development over time, but that is barely making up for well defined character-starting positions. Thankfully disney made a sequel, and that fanfiction establishes, that the character progression of the beast is minimal, and easily undone. likely for the sake of drama, they could not turn the beast into a true saint.

[@holyrandomness5654]

@@ollllj Shit take.

[@alexandriaceballos1938]

Gaston is the kind of villain I would call the cops on if the film was set in real life.

[@dionysos46]

In the door scene, it would have been really far close from Belle intimacy.

[@johnmartin4119]

I think Gaston could’ve been redeemed if he had ever learned to care about someone beyond what they could offer. A skill that Beast was able to develop, as he started much the same as Gaston, both aggressive jerks who only care about others in terms of what they can do for them. But whereas Beast started to think about what Bell wants and wanting to see her happy, he learned to care not just for Belle but for everyone else as well, listening more to his servants and treating them like friends not objects, freeing Belle to save Maurice despite that it would mean he would be cursed forever, and even showing mercy to Gaston, a man who doesn’t even deserve mercy

[@jorgebersabe293]

The Beast spared Gaston because he realized that Gaston is the monster he would have turned into if the Enchantress never cursed him.

[@DiscoTimelordASD]

Interesting theory: Gaston paid Maurice to complete his invention so he'd leave and then Gaston could marry Belle before Maurice got back to object. Also: I love the ebb and flow of your voice. It's beautiful.

[@redbayly]

I also read something a while back that suggested that Gaston wasn't interested in the triplets because they look pretty much identical to each other, meaning that if he married any of them then that left two women who were equally as pretty as the one he chose to be married off to other men. In that situation, two other men would have wives just as beautiful as Gaston's, which would be unacceptable for his ego as he "deserved the best."

[@balanc-joy9187]

You know, considering how many eggs Gaston ate daily, if that fall didn't kill him, he probably would've died of a heart attack in his 30s or 40s I'd wager. Also, he originally was going to survive the fall, then be eaten by the wolves when he couldn't escape, but they thought that was too dark. They reused it later when they made Lion King, since, ironically enough, they originally were going to have Scar burn to death on top of Pride Rock, but _that_ was too dark so they picked a variation of Gaston's original death to replace _that_ .

[@thegneech]

I mean, "He's a narcissist and she said no" would cover a good 90% of the issue, I suspect. XD You can tell by her annoyed expression whenever he shows up that he's been pestering her for some time.

[@kayakat1869]

I think its because misogynistic guys focus all of their attention on women that don't want them.

[@jorgebersabe293]

Funnily enough, they fail to realize is their attitude that turns them off.

[@Pazz_ARTZ]

A long time ago I used to honestly think that Maurice gave Gaston his approval because he thought he would provide Belle with a good future to some extent

[@allopez8563]

Gaston has some redeeming traits. He is brave and has commitment. He didn't just rile the village folk, he lead them into the Beast's castle. If Gaston had better upbringing, literacy and someone who taught him humility and higiene, he would have ended up been an uptight citizen.

[@hoodwinkedwriting4237]

Why does he even ask Belle? This is around the 17th century in the movie. You didn't go to girls and ask her to marry you back then. There were a lot of arranged marriages and the guy would ask the parents anyway. The women had no say in who she did and didn't marry

[@briannahlabelle2458]

That’s a really scary thought. Imagine a man not wanting you for anything other than just a prize to be won quoting jasmine. She’s not a person in his mind

[@jeremygeorgia4943]

That's what made him a villain. Classic villains usually have a fatal flaw, that makes them simply unable to be anything more than a villain. He was given plenty of opportunities to take a higher road, but he chose to be underhanded. If he would have had an ounce of situational awareness, he could have turned the situation around. It would have been bad for Belle, but he could have created a situation where she was obligated to him & had no choice but to be grateful & indebted to him. Such things have happened before - even with a free spirit like her. Fortunately, he was unable to muster any empathy at all & lost.

[@emilythecrazedanimefan3664]

It was very much the plan of the animators to make us wonder if Belle would end up with the beast or Gaston, they did this by using the color blue to symbolize good, and the color red evil. Both the beast and Gaston start out with blue eyes and red clothing, but as the story goes on the beast goes from wearing red when he first meets Belle, purple when they start to get to know each other better, and finally blue in the dance scene when they finally start to fall in love. Meanwhile, Gaston is introduced wearing red and continues throughout the movie.

[@debymello4756]

He's kinda similar to the dude from The Invisible Man: he can't fathom that someone doesn't want him, so he have to make her NEED him

[@Elizalustof]

Speaking of liking villains I really hope they make an Evil Queen movie like they’ve done with maleficent & Cruella. I read the graphic novel snow, glass, apples and I loved it! Xxxx

[@sophiehale1171]

Yessss I hope so

[@laurelsilberman5705]

“Other than being a guy with a really thick neck”😂 Also, I love your fun hair. Very cool. Makes me think of the ocean! Like a sandy beach ombré. 😊👍🏽

[@daniellemusella1594]

Gaston wanted to go after the Beast, because he recognized that Belle had affection for him. He was standing directly behind her as she looked into the mirror, and he heard the sweet, tender tone in her voice when she said, "He's my friend." Likely being part of the noble class was how he got 90% of the village to believe and follow him. He's so used to being in-control, that the idea of someone, particularly a woman, not willingly placing themselves under his thumb drives him crazy. The live-action movie did a lot more fleshing-out of the character. Would you consider doing a Part 2 to this, analyzing that other version? (1/11/2022)

[@Mad_Rabbit69]

That belle doll is so beautiful, I wish I had one 😭

[@YellowBear-kx1ff]

I’m getting a light-up Belle doll for Christmas.

[@somegamer4071]

Gaston seems like a high level character who has done it all and went back to his home town, nothing there excites him anymore, he wants adventure, just like Belle, something out of the ordinary. I would agree though, if he helped Maurice right off the bat, he would have gotten a much better chance with Belle, going to the castle with the mob, defeating the servants, killed the beast and saved the girl. Not only would he be viewed as the town hero even more after this, but Belle wouldn't have had time to fall in love with the beast by then, and Gaston would have become the hero like in her fairy tale book. although an egotistical one, and Maurice would probably practically throw Gaston at Belle since he'd probably love the lad

[@isabelall4127]

you: saying you're singing badly me: singing along unapologetically terribly, having fun

[@lisettegarcia7013]

YAY! I love Beauty and the Beast and Belle is my favorite Disney princess! I really think the reason why Gaston chose Belle instead of the blonde bimbettes, is because: sure they are crazy in love with him but you're right, you can't choose the easy way out. People want a challenge and that challenge may consider someone wanting to play hard to get. Even if that certain someone doesn't want to be your significant other. Belle didn't want to be with Gaston because he's conceited and rude. He also doesn't understand Belle or approve of her interests. Gaston is just waiting for someone just trying to get Maurice to be thrown in the asylum, because he agrees with everyone that he's "crazy" but he is playing two face with Belle when she saids that her father isn't crazy. So he is slowly trying to knock Belle down to the level of being attached to him so Maurice doesn't go to the nut house. But this is my opinion on it, Fangirl. If you agree or disagree, that's fine too. I respect your opinions as well and you are the best theorist out there that can breakdown any kind of movie or show from any kind of company besides Disney.

[@xcar0982]

8:26 I tin your analysis is not wrong, except for the point you mention here, Gaston doesn't go after Beast because he is a new unique conquest, if you see Gaston while Belle describes Beast, he notices that Belle loves Beast, so is another obstacle he must take out of the way to make Belle his, but this point doesn't change what you said about Gaston.

[@ollllj]

shes the last pokemon to catch em all.

[@rachelmills5774]

I don't think that Gaston lost focus of Belle when he went after the Beast. It was as you said pride. Belle had insulted him by claiming the Beast was better than him. Hearing that Gaston wants to take out the competition. Plus, as you said he just wants to hurt Belle by this point. He could tell she had feelings for Adam(Beast) and he was so upset over that. Gaston's not only a predator but vain and haughty. To have his pride wounded so much by Belle calling something that doesn't even look human really irked him. The Beast wasn't a prize he was just going to be a causality in this.

[@hanananah]

I fully agree with this take. Even as a child it occured to me that if Belle had actually been interested back he would have just made fun of and insulted her like he does her father. We never see him hunt any actual animals, so why make him a hunter at all? This is the answer.

[@NoiseDay]

Your theory makes a lot of sense and I bet that's what the writers were thinking too as they developed the movie. I always wondered why Gaston went for Belle instead of one of the blondes when everyone thought she was weird, but I haven't seen the movie since I was a kid

[@raven3067]

Here's a request theory: What is the Beast's actual name? And who are his parents.

[@YellowBear-kx1ff]

I like to think that his parents are a Prince and Princess and that the Beast is the ruling monarch of a Principality.

[@GuineaPig361]

@@YellowBear-kx1ff This is confirmed in a Disney Princess art book!

[@YellowBear-kx1ff]

@@GuineaPig361 Can you please provide a link to this art book?

[@silverstarlightproductions1292]

The Beast's name is Adam.

[@dracorex6876]

Although many fans would say that "Adam" is the Beast's actual name, it's not his official name. Beast was simply either known as Beast, the Prince, or by his loyal subjects, Master, and "Adam" was just a name chosen by fans all because it was apparently the answer on a game called The D Show, which wasn't even overlooked by Disney itself. Check out these two videos by Keith Lapinig. Part 1 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXm6nquIrderiqs Part 2 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/ennco6mVqrVlnKs Also check out this video by Nathan Talks, where he mentions that Glen Keane reveals in the interview that the Beast never really had a real name during and after production of the movie, let alone the other two movies. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqGZmp2tpM6Fars

[@fanofallthings7099]

You have a BEAUTIFUL singing voice!!!!

[@Nikkimommyof4]

OK the end of the video was the best part. I found myself singing right along with her. It's scary how much I remember of this movie considering how long it's been since I've seen it. I think it's been at least 10 years.

[@michaeloluwajuyemi4546]

After watching your video, I agree with you about Gaston hunting Belle! I never thought of that!

[@galaxywanderer5508]

Wow, so much sounds familiar, I think I've escaped a couple Gastons lol.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

I'm so glad you got away!

[@raven3067]

Dude was obsessed with Belle when 3 beautiful other girls was all over him.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

Like I said, he was a hunter, not a farmer.

[@raven3067]

@@TheFangirlWatches yes you're right

[@nationalinstituteofcheese3012]

It’s like Victor Krum where he wants a challenge and Hermione was the only girl who didn’t fall to his “charms”.

[@vilmavenla]

@@nationalinstituteofcheese3012 Only difference is, Viktor is not a nice guy.

[@Mommak8]

Thank you! This one just helped me thru a random outburst of overwhelming sadness... keep being you!

[@ahopcroft]

I’ve always loved Geston as a villain, me and my friend would often talk about him ( along side other villains) at work ( night shift so no customers). The only think that pokes a hole in the hunter/ prey there is when he said “ do you really think she could love some one like you when she could have me?” And “ bell is mine!” I always thought Geston saw Beast as the last obstacle to get bell to marry him, frankly another love interest competing for bells affection

[@bugzgrl306]

Sure Gaston could have wanted Belle because she was the only girl who wasn’t throwing herself against her, but it could also be because he has had a crush on Belle for years. It’s mentioned in the movie with “Right from the moment when I met her, saw her I said she’s gorgeous and I fell.”

[@huguesdepayens807]

Gaston is a Chad.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

YES!

[@sophiehale1171]

Yesssssss

[@jorgebersabe293]

Gaston is not a Chad. He is a poser with deep insecurity problems. A real Chad doesn't need to constantly flaunt his so called greatness.

[@hannahevertson8306]

I find it very telling that when he's standing over the Beast Gaston's original line was "Time to die". They had to change it to "Belle is mine" for censorship reasons eventually but in the original he isn’t even fighting for the girl.

[@lonelyronin2428]

My take: Belle and the blond trio are on the same level of pretty, they all baddies okay? But the blondes are basic, they're like all the other girls. Gaston likes the best, not basic. But Belle is different. She is an avid reader, doesnt care about looks, she has personality. That makes her rare in her village, everyone thought so. So Gaston likes "look at this rare creature, mine!!" But Belle rejects him, something that never happens. Hes piseed, but is like "im pissed, but thats kinda hot. Challenge accepted!" He likes the chase better than the prize.. the more rare, the better the chase. But imo, he lowkey a bum. I would have taken his sidekick. I liked the balls he had in the live action remake.

[@wendychavez5348]

I made it to the end, you have a lovely voice that I could listen to for hours! Good insights about Gaston. He's not really evil, just sort of irredeemably sleazy.

[@earthrocker48]

Gaston is the CREEPIEST villain. One rank higher than Jafar by 1 point.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

1 point? I would love to see this ranking system, it sounds fun!

[@purpill_ally]

Loving your strength, I am still supporting. You got this.

[@katlynwebb5755]

I would've rigged his musket to explode if I was in Belle's position and if he somehow managed to avoid it, I would poison or have someone poison his drink with deadly nightshade.

[@LowellLucasJr.]

To Gaston: The Triplets are easy...I want a challenge! Me: YOU FOOL!!!

[@MmmKayHuuNay]

You sing so beautifully it brought me to tears. Thank You!!!

[@msfilipinamerican]

This is the first video I’ve seen of you and I just wanted to say that your singing voice is absolutely lovely!! Enjoyed the video nonetheless 😊

[@Eszra]

My friends kids love Gaston. Its so funny. Also i once read a great fanfic out of random chance where he lives after his supposed death cursed to be a dwarf and ends up with a disfigured girl. He does get back his old figure but its pretty good.

[@izzebelleaugustus9786]

Hey there! This is my first time seeing one of your videos, and I loved hearing you sing! It's been a while since I watch Beauty and the Beast, but I absolutely agree with you about Gaston's hunter mindset and him seeing Belle as a goal/ trophy. He reminds me of Petruchio.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

Thank you for coming to watch and I hope you find more you like here!

[@jaykilla7482]

Made it to the end, thank you! ❤

[@AdamFishkin]

This is the examination of psychology I enjoy. Gaston is one of the key elements that shows off the Disney artists' storytelling ability. For 2/3 of the film he's the B plot, the embodiment of the town's oversized ego that provokes Belle's restlessness, leading her to prefer the Beast's castle over her former home. But in the buildup to the third act and the B plot's progression, Gaston makes active choices to become the main villain that Belle and the Beast will face in their dark night of the soul. Gaston clearly lacks an observation of even close surroundings (I mean jeezus, he complains that Belle's book has no pictures when 2 min. earlier we saw that it does). His ability to stay ignorant is reinforced by financial privilege: he's a local business owner with that tavern and probably makes tons of side cash selling surplus meat and furs from his hunting trips. But this is offset by his laser focus on one thing: being the town alpha with a sense of *totality*. He's deceived by appearances in that a snub from the inventor's daughter is to him the potential downfall of his reputation. Until she caves to marriage, he'll always feel insecure in his alpha position. The Beast is his own worst enemy for 2/3 of the film, and assuming he was too selfish to ever use the mirror for the sake of curiosity over the village's occupants, he had no reason to consider Gaston's existence until the guy showed up and rammed his castle doors open. By the time that happens, however, Gaston represents all of Beast's old habits/mistakes come to claim his life, and Beast has to choose whether or not to give into the despair and self-loathing he's felt for 10 years. Conveying these themes was for Disney a tightrope walk between exercising subtlety and hammering the message home. The success is in the story structure they used and the efforts they took to make Gaston's character arc of corruption move in an organic way.

[@meganshaw1949]

You know I just took that scene with Maurice as being Maurice not having great people or judgement skills. To support this, is the fact is that villagers seem to see Maurice more as someone to make fun of instead of respecting and treating him kindly like how they should. So, to me I don't see many reasons as to why he would want to willingly socialize with them if they treat him like such a target, although it could be possible that he and Belle were very low on funds, so it's possible that he could've borrowed money from Gaston and made a deal with him to at least mention Gaston to Belle. However, if that's true, it just goes to prove that Gaston doesn't really care about Belle's opinion of him as it would exemplify his arrogance in both using his victim and getting rejected yet again by someone who can't stand him. And to someone like Gaston, Belle's rejection of him would sadly only encourage him more. And if this were real, he's someone who Belle would need a serious restraining order against as his behavior would be seen as stalker-like and creepy.

[@DrTimes99]

So , I think something to consider when looking at Gaston's dismissal of Maurice at the Tavern is the wide held town belief that Maurice is in fact insane. We know he's a nice guy and telling the truth, but to the villagers he's an eccentric recluse that lives on the outskirts of town, with a history of blowing up his own home. The asylum guy doesn't deny Maurice's insanity, he just brushes it off as "harmless".

[@cybernetiksoul8583]

I love your hair and eyeshadow combo!

[@keenankennedy3485]

Love your videos as always :) I love the blue hair I miss my blue hair haha! Happy Christmas Eve Eve! Have a lovely holiday!

[@fireofdawn3515]

May I say your voice is amazing! Your singing was so pretty!

[@a.t.m873]

Brilliant observations. Thus video reminds me of why Diva from the channel Musical Hell had Gaston in her Top 10 Musical villains. You're very smart in your video details. Thanks as always

[@yukiko347]

This works. I will keep this as note for Gaston, specially how important his motivation story contrast is to Beast.

[@jorgebersabe293]

And they end up swapping roles at the end: the Beast regains his humanity and Gaston degenerates into animalistic madness.

[@briannahlabelle2458]

I think you’re great!! I struggle 2. They also always seem to pick opera singers or Broadway trained singers

[@michaeloluwajuyemi4546]

This is one of the biggest questions of the movie!

[@nathenewendzel7806]

I don't think Belle's father would give a man permission to marry her without first learning her feelings for him. He probably only mentioned Gaston because he appeared to like her. I mean he did back off on that idea as soon as she described his issues and how he wasn't her type. If he had really have given Gaston his permission or made a deal with him, I believe he would at least be a little more persistent with this suggestion.

[@magagguie]

Loooved this video 😍

[@newcreature222]

I think it wonderful that you can analyze and breakdown Gaston obsession with Belle I see the picture more clearly now

[@emilydivis6369]

As much as the audience may disagree with it, I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be canonical fact that Belle is prettier than the blonde triplets. Gaston isn't the only one to remark on her appearance. One of the lines in "Belle" is, "Now it's no wonder that her name means beauty / Her looks have got no parallel." Maybe part of the reason she's considered more attractive than the triplets is that... well, they're triplets. There are three of them and they're almost identical. Belle is a novelty by comparison.

[@Borsanime13]

Or maybe unlike belle they are wearing makeup to make themselves seem her equal?

[@kendgie_245]

he saw her as a challenge, the one person in town who didn't swoon over every little thing he did. or maybe he just liked brunettes lol I doubt it but I truly think it was because Belle rejected him and for some men that's a turn on

[@cbismarck07]

Love how you referenced the Legally Blonde musical

[@crystalcleara.k.a.missyoko1430]

That's pretty cool analysis love it 🥰 From the things you pointed it out he is a Enneagram 3 looking for that challenge very stereotype (l love the personality typing system help me understand it more ) any way you have a lovely voice by the way 😊

[@nevercatchwind]

"Gaston have found more rare prey" Me imagining how Gaston threatens to harm Belle to force Beast to marry him just as he tried to force to it Belle by putting her father in an asylum

[@savannagordon79]

Gaston screwed up because he should have helped Belle’s dad save Belle cause had he did she would thing it was nice of him and reconsider his marriage proposal

[@DemonBunnyQueen]

You should sing more often!!! Absolutely lovely 🥰🥰

[@BBMacsWorld]

I once watched a video about how Gaston only wanted to marry Belle because he was trying to hide the fact that he was gay. Which could also be the reason why he's so into hunting. He was just trying to hide his identity because he was afraid of his real self

[@sophiehale1171]

Wow

[@DaddyOfTheSugarVariety]

I love your voice! I have since the beginning!

[@TheFangirlWatches]

Thank you Daddy! lol

[@FreckledZelda]

Hey I made it to the end I love you 😍✨

[@mysterymaiden]

Gaston could have had a redeem arch if he had taken the second loss after the Beast had shown him mercy on the roof of the castle. If a monster can show mercy he can too.