Moments in Graphics
A blog by Christoph Peters
However, the 2014 film adds a complex backstory. The Beast is not simply a prince cursed by an enchantress. Instead, we learn his tragic past: he was a widowed king who, in a desperate act to save his kingdom and his young son, made a pact with a mysterious, god-like entity from a celestial realm. This deal backfires horribly, resulting in the death of his son, the destruction of his castle’s human inhabitants (who are transformed into stone statues), and his own metamorphosis into a beastly creature. This backstory introduces themes of grief, guilt, and the corrupting nature of power.