Belle from The beauty and the beast coloring page

In Disney’s animated film Beauty and the Beast, Belle is the main female character and is considered to be the beauty, both by her name and by her appearance and personality. Belle is a smart, independent, and brave young woman, loved for her gentle nature and great compassion. She looks beyond physical appearances and eventually falls in love with the Beast, revealing the true beauty of the soul.

The story of Beauty and the Beast originates from a French folk tale. The earliest and most famous version was written in 1740 by Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve, under the title La Belle et la Bête. This long and detailed tale was published in a collection called La jeune américaine, et les contes marins.

However, it was a shortened and simplified version by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, published in 1756, that popularized the story as we know it today. This shorter version was included in her collection of stories for children, Magasin des enfants. Beaumont’s version focuses on themes of inner goodness, selfless love, and not judging people by their outward appearance.

The story is inspired by various folk tales that feature marriages or relationships between humans and fantastical creatures.