Analysis Of Angela Carter s Post Modern Rendition, Tiger...

When you think of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast, what do you remember? In the typical plot of Beauty and the Beast, Beauty aids the Beast in his transformation from beast to man. The focus of the typical storyline is the battle between innate traits and characteristics accepted by society. However, in Angela Carter’s post-modern rendition, Tiger’s Bride, not only does she shift the focus to explore the relationship between love and self-acceptance, but she also changes the plot in efforts to make Beauty undergo a transformation. Through Carter’s tone, exploration of power dynamics, and use of imagery, the story follows the progression of the love and self-acceptance that influences Beauty’s metamorphosis. Within the story,†¦show more content†¦As the moment between Beauty and the Beast continues, she feels as if â€Å"[she is] within the field of force of his golden eyes† (81). This line signifies how much attraction lies between the two characters as Beauty feels that she’s in the â€Å"field of force†, keeping her entranced with him. Consequently, â€Å"each stroke of his tongue rip[s] off skin after successive skin† (81), releasing Beauty from any remaining ties to society and allowing her to have freedom. By removing each layer of â€Å"skin†, the Beast ultimately unleashes Beauty’s true identity, giving her the opportunity to fully accept herself without the pressure to conform by society. With Carter’s use of tone, the audience gains the ability to explore how the love of the Beast causes Beauty to not only discover who she truly is, but also learn how to accept herself. Similarly, Carter explores the power dynamics between the Beast and Beauty, drawing attention to how outside forces allow a person to develop self-acceptance. In the beginning, Carter introduces the audience to Beauty who has autonomy, yet still complies to societal norms. When she encounters the Beast after she’s left in the castle alone, she decides that she â€Å"will not smile† (69) at him, simply because she does not want to. By choosing to not smile at the Beast, she defies the typical role of a female in a fairy tale. However, the influence of society still has an impact on her because when she