Beauty and the Beast: Was It Really Love—Or Just a Lifetime Hostage Situation?
An Immortal Gazette Exclusive - Because Some ‘Love Stories’ Are Just Red Flags Dressed in Roses.
Alice was lounging on a velvet chaise, casually flipping through a gilded edition of Beauty and the Beast, when she sighed dramatically.
“Oh, this one again,” she mused. “A tale as old as time… or at least as old as Stockholm Syndrome.”
Loki, who had been twirling a dagger between his fingers, smirked. “Let me guess - the Beast wasn’t as noble as everyone thinks?”
Rumplestiltskin scoffed. “You mean the terrifying monster who kidnapped a girl and forced her to live in his castle? What a shock.”
Alice grinned. “Ah, but let’s break it all down, shall we?”
Fact #1: Beauty’s Father Doomed Her to a Lifetime of Beastly Drama
Alice tapped the book. “So, first of all, our dear Beauty only ends up at the Beast’s castle because her father screwed up. He steals a rose from the Beast’s garden - ”
Loki raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? A rose?”
Alice nodded. “Yep. And the Beast is like, ‘How dare you take my flower, now you must die!’”
Rumple snorted. “Bit extreme, don’t you think?”
Alice shrugged. “He is a cursed immortal with anger issues. Anyway, Dad begs for his life, and the Beast says, Fine, but only if one of your daughters comes in your place.”
Loki stretched. “And instead of running for her life, Beauty just goes?”
Alice sighed. “She volunteers, like a good little self-sacrificing heroine.”
Rumple sipped his drink. “Already not looking great.”
Fact #2: The Beast Wasn’t a Gentle Soul—He Was Just Desperate
“Now, about the Beast himself,” Alice continued. “The story tries to convince us that he’s not actually a bad guy. But let’s be real - ”
Loki smirked. “He locked her up and gave her no choice but to like him?”
Alice nodded. “Ding, ding! He acts all tragic, but let’s not forget: He was cursed because he was a horrible person.”
Rumple raised a finger. “Or, in some versions, because he refused to give a poor old woman shelter.”
Alice smirked. “Which, let’s be honest, is still kind of terrible.”
Fact #3: The Enchantment Had a Convenient Loophole—That Screamed Manipulation
Alice leaned in. “Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The Beast needs Beauty to fall in love with him, because only true love can break his curse.”
Loki chuckled. “So basically, it’s love me or stay in my creepy castle forever?”
Alice grinned. “Pretty much! And of course, he tries to play nice—gives her fancy dresses, a library, lets her roam the halls. But at the end of the day, she’s still trapped.”
Rumple scoffed. “Classic manipulation. Give them just enough freedom to make them think they chose it.”
Alice raised her glass. “Exactly. And eventually, Beauty starts feeling sorry for him, because oh, poor Beast, he’s actually so kind deep down!”
Loki smirked. “So she falls for her captor?”
Alice nodded. “Yep. And what does that sound like?”
Rumple groaned. “Stockholm Syndrome.”
Fact #4: The Beast Wasn’t Even the Real Villain—Society Was
Loki stretched. “Alright, but what about Gaston? Isn’t he the real villain?”
Alice tapped her chin. “Technically? Sure. He’s vain, arrogant, and a complete menace. But let’s not pretend that makes the Beast a good guy.”
Rumple frowned. “So, either way, she was stuck with a controlling man - one just happened to be hairier?”
Alice grinned. “Precisely.”
Fact #5: The Transformation Ending Was a Scam
Loki smirked. “And let me guess - the big transformation wasn’t actually a reward for Beauty?”
Alice snapped her fingers. “Bingo! She falls for him as the Beast. But when she finally says she loves him? Poof! He’s suddenly a handsome prince.”
Rumple rolled his eyes. “So, what, she was just supposed to be fine with that?”
Alice shrugged. “Apparently! In some versions, she’s even disappointed, because she preferred him as a Beast.”
Loki chuckled. “Wouldn’t that be the ultimate twist - if she saw his human form and just… walked away?”
Alice smirked. “Honestly? That would have been iconic.”
So, Was It Love? Or Just a Long-Term Hostage Crisis?
Rumple sighed. “So what are we saying here? That this wasn’t a romance at all?”
Alice leaned back, smirking. “Oh, it was a romance… just not a healthy one.”
Loki grinned. “Manipulation, captivity, and emotional coercion. Sounds like true love to me.”
Alice raised her glass. “To Beauty—the girl who fell for a Beast, probably needed therapy, and definitely deserved better.”
Rumple groaned. “I hate fairy tales.”
Loki chuckled. “Oh, my dear imp, they’re only awful if you expect them to make sense.”
And thus, another so-called love story crumbled under the scrutiny of the Immortal Gazette. And this is NOT the first time Alice has ripped into Beauty and the Beast!
📜 Takeaway: Was Beauty Really in Love—Or Just a Victim of Stockholm Syndrome?
Alright, mortals and troublemakers, let’s break this down properly.
What is Stockholm Syndrome?
Stockholm Syndrome is a psychological response where a captive starts to develop positive feelings - sometimes even loyalty or love - toward their captor. It happens in hostage situations, abusive relationships, and, apparently, fairy tales disguised as romances.
How does this connect to Beauty and the Beast?
- Beauty is forcibly taken from her home and family.
- She’s trapped in a castle with a terrifying captor who controls her life.
- The Beast gradually starts treating her better—just enough to make her doubt her initial fear.
- Over time, she begins to sympathize with him, excusing his past cruelty because of his tragic backstory.
- She convinces herself that she loves him, even though their entire relationship was built on captivity and emotional manipulation.
Sounds familiar? That’s because it’s textbook Stockholm Syndrome.
Now, does this mean every version of Beauty and the Beast is toxic? Not necessarily. But let’s not pretend it’s a flawless romance, either. If someone says, “But he was nice to her eventually!” - congrats, you’ve just described every classic case of emotional manipulation.
So next time someone calls Beauty and the Beast the greatest love story of all time, just sip your enchanted tea like Alice and ask -
"Or was it just a glorified hostage situation?"
📜 But Here’s the Real Problem...
For the last few years, an unsettling trend has crept into mortal fantasy books—romances that low-key glorify hostage situations. These stories push the idea that if your captor is hot, brooding, treats you like trash, and has a tragic past, then maybe, just maybe, you should fall in love with them.
Spoiler alert: No.
Let’s be crystal clear—someone saving you from a horrible situation is NOT the same as someone kidnapping you or forcing you into a deal and holding you captive. If your “love story” starts with coercion and imprisonment, that’s not romance - that’s a red flag big enough to cover the entire kingdom.
So, dear mortals, the next time you pick up a so-called “dark fantasy romance,” maybe ask yourself-
"Is this a love story, or am I just watching another magical hostage situation with extra steps?"
🖋️✨📜🖤
