When Beauty's father plucks a rose from the Beast's garden, he must either pay for his mistake with his life, or with one of his daughters. Beauty insists on going to the Beast herself since it was she who desired the rose and caused her father's misfortune. At first Beauty is frightened by the ugly Beast, but soon his gentle ways put her at ease. Then he falls in love with her, and she is alarmed by his persistent request that she become his wife. As kind as the Beast has proved to be, Beauty is not sure that she can ever return his love. One of the classic fairy tales of all time, Beauty and the Beast appeals to children because of its mystery, suspense, and romance, and to adults because of its exploration of the duality in human nature and the true meaning of love.
