Why are movies/shows like Phantom of the Opera and Beauty and the Beast considered romantic when the storyline is non-consensual?
I think they both, to some extent, appeal to that less-intelligent side of us women that says "Sure, he's a monster, but _I can change him_!" In both stories you have a character who's a literal monster who wants to possess the heroine. In Beauty & The Beast, when he finally actually starts t…
The Short Answer
I think they both, to some extent, appeal to that less-intelligent side of us women that says "Sure, he's a monster, but _I can change him_!" In both stories you have a character who's a literal monster who wants to possess the heroine. In Beauty & The Beast, when he finally actually starts to care about the girl, when he realizes that he's been a selfish beast all along and that he genuinely loves her rather than simply owning her, he _literally_ becomes the perfect handsome prince. In Phantom, the Phantom finally comes to understand real love, and lets Christine and Raoul go because her happiness is more important than his desires, then dies (in the original story) or vanishes into the night (the musical). Both stories are about an abusive relationship, but one where that particularly female fallacy of 'If he loves me, he will change' eventually comes true. …doesn't make it right, but there you have it.
Analysis
Key Concepts: He's, monster, stories
This explanation focuses on he's, monster, stories and spans 159 words across 5 sentences. At 121% above the average History explanation (72 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “I think they both, to some extent, appeal to that less-intelligent side of us women that says "Sure, he's a monster, but” It then elaborates by presenting a contrasting perspective, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 5 connected points.
How This Compares in History
Ranked #23 of 500 History questions by answer depth (top 5%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why movies/shows like phantom of the opera and beauty and the beast considered romantic when the storyline is non-consensual?
I think they both, to some extent, appeal to that less-intelligent side of us women that says "Sure, he's a monster, but _I can change him_!" In both stories you have a character who's a literal monster who wants to possess the heroine. In Beauty…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar History questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 159 words, ranked #23 of 500 History questions by depth. The key concepts covered are he's, monster, stories.
What approach does this answer take to explain movies/shows like phantom of the opera and beauty and the be?
The explanation uses root cause analysis and contrasting perspectives across 159 words. It is categorized under History and addresses the question through 2 analytical lenses.