Beauty & The Beast

I am sure all of us know the story of the beauty and the beast, a fictional love story of two people – one who was cursed to be a beast and the other one who was exquisite- but did we know that it could be partially inspired by the story of two people?

So who were the two people it was based on?

Disney’s version is based on the fairy tale La Belle et la Bête, by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, published in 1740.

The French author was inspired by the real-life story of Petrus Gonsalvus and his bride-to-be Catherine.

 Who was Petrus Gonsalvus?

Petrus Gonsalvus born in 1537 was referred to as the man of the woods. He became famous during his lifetime because of his condition of hypertrichosis (a condition that involves the growth of hair all over the body or in some parts). Petrus first came to the court of Henry II, King of France in 1547, and was sent from there to the court of Margaret of Parma. While there, he married Lady Catherine. Later he was moved into the court of Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma. Four of his seven children were also affected with hypertrichosis. His family became an object of medical inquiry by Ulisse Aldrovandi. Despite living and acting as a nobleman, Gonsalvus and his hairy children were not considered fully human in the eyes of others. Gonsalvus eventually settled in Italy with his wife.

It is inspiring how even though Lady Catherine knew that Petrus was Having hypertrichosis married him……just how Belle found that the Beast was actually good at heart. So, If we just try to look at the positive or good side in people we can really understand who they are.

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