TheJungianAnimus,NegativeandPositive,

in JeanCocteaus1946Film,BeautyandtheBeast
BrotherJeromePryor,S.J.
Xavier University,2001

It will be the purpose of this paper to show how Jean Cocteaus 1946
film,BeautyandtheBeast,revealsthepositiveandnegativesidesoftheanimus,the
malepersonificationoftheunconsciousinwoman.

Thenegativeanimus,whichwillbediscussedinthispaper,oftentakestheform
of a sacred opinion which cannot be discussed, much less contradicted. These
statementsareoftenright,inageneralway,butimpersonal,anddontfitthespecific
situations inwhich thewoman finds herself. He isoften adeath figure wholures
womenawayfromallhumanrelationships,especiallyfromthosewithmen. Hefills
womenwithdreamyillusionswhichseparatethemfromreality.Hefostersdestructive,
negative,attitudes.

Whentheanimusisfunctioningpositively,hehelpsthewomandevelopthe
masculinequalitiesofinitiative,courage,objectivity,andspiritualwisdom.

Thefilmbeginswithamessagefromthefilmsdirector, inwhichhesaysthat
thefilmisnotarealisticfilm,that,likechildren,wehavetobelieveinmagic.(Inthe
film, magic symbolizes the power of the mind to control reality.) This introduction
preparesusforafilmthatusesstylization,adeliberatedeparturefromrealityonthepart
oftheartist.Sinceeveryexampleofstylizatonisanattempttorevealtheinnerworld
whichcannotbeseen,thefilmsdramatizationoftheJungiananimusisanappropriate
formfortherealizationofastorywhichdocumentstheprogressofayounggirlgrowing
up.

This paper purports to develop the Jungian suggestion inMan and

hisSymbolsthattheBeastinthefilmistheanimusofBeautyandthatasshebecomes
familiarwiththeBeast,sheisgettingmoreandmoreintouchwithhermasculineside.
BothBeautysandtheBeastsbehaviorwillbetreated,sinceachangeforthebetter
intheBeastmeansamaturationonthepartofBeauty.

ItisclearinthebeginningofthefilmthatBeautyisoverworkedandabusedin
manywaysbyhersisters.Thatsheallowsherselftobetreatedinthiswaytestifiesto
theinappropriatepassivitythatcharacterizeshersubmissivebehavior.Inotherwords,
she needs toestablish contact withgoodmasculine energy,or tointegratewithher
animus,whichwillbeseentobepersonifiedintheBeast.WhenAvenant,theyoung
manwholovesher,asksBeautywhyhersistersneverdoanywork,Beautyreplies:
Mysistersaretoobeautiful,theirhandsaretoowhite. Beautyknowsthatthisis
nottrue,therefore she is not telling the truth. She is acting the part of the naive
innocent.EmmaJungcommentsontheroleofwomanasactress:

Amongthearts,thedramaisoutstandinglytheonein
which womancanachieveequalitywithman.In
acting,people,relationship,andlifearegivenform,
and sowomanistherejustascreativeasman.

ThefactthatBeautyisusinghercreativitytoappeartobesomethingthatsheisnot
showsthatthisisafunctionofhernegativeanimus.Itisthe purposeofthepositive
animustoputthewomanintouchwithwhosheis,whilethenegativeanimushelpsher
toobscurethis.Later,whenshegetsintouchwithheranimus,shewilladmitthetruth
abouthertwosisters.

WhenAvenanttellsherhelovesherandwantstomarryher,shetellshimthatshe
muststaysingleandlivewithherfather. Thisisnotanappropriateresponsefora
younggirltomakewhoismaturingasawoman.Atthispoint,Beautydoesnothavethe
contactwithherinnerselftorespondwithamatureanswer,astateofaffairsthatwillbe
remediedlater.

Whenherfather,amerchant,leavesonabusinesstrip,Beautyssistersaskfor
lavishgifts.Beautysrequestforawhiteroseisridiculedbyhermaterialistic sisters.
Carl Jung,inManandHisSymbols,mentionsthather chosengiftisnotasuitable
choiceforBeautytomakeofherfather,sincethewhiterose,inthiscontext,symbolizes
innocenteroticism.ItisthereforeanimprudentchoiceforBeautytomakebecauseof
thedangerofincestthatisinferredbyit.

The merchant loses his way home after discovering that his creditors have
confiscatedthemerchandisefromhisships.Hefindshimselfinadarkforest,asymbol
ofthesubconscious,whichpreparestheviewerforthemagicalworldoftheBeast,and
thefantasticpalacewherethemerchantwilltakerefugeforthenight.

Afterhavingdinnerandawakeningfromsleep,themerchantpicksawhiterose
fromtheBeastsgarden.Theownerappears,infuriatedatthetheft.Hesnarlsoutthat
thisoffenseispunishablebydeath. Asaninappropriatelyseverereaction,thisisa
negativeresponseofBeautysanimus. TheBeastexhibitsthenegativesideofthe
animusearlyinthefilmbybeingharsh,judgmental,andbyseeingthingsinblackand
white.TheBeastwillmellowasBeautyacceptshimandmakesfriendswithhim.Itis
appropriateheretorememberthat,asanimageoferoticism,therosebelongstothe
domainoftheBeast,nottotheworldofherfather,anditwillbetheBeastsgiftto
Beautywhenshematuresandacceptstheemotionalintuitivesiderepresentedbythe
Beast. TheBeastallowshimtoreturnhomeontheconditionthatoneofhisthree
daughterswilltakehisplacetodie.Ifnot,hewillhavetoreturninthreedays.

WhenBeautyhearsoftheBeastscondition,shesecretlyleavesfortheBeasts
palace,usingthemagichorsetheBeastprovidedforherfather.Shefullyexpectstodie,
butherloveforherfatherstimulatesherburgeoningcourage.Thisisanintimationof
thepositivemasculineenergythatwillbeherswhensheunitesfullywithheranimus.

WhensheenterstheBeastspalace,sheisenteringherowninnerworld,since
theBeastisapartofher,whichismadeexplicitattheendofthefilm.Darknessand
silence characterize this place of mystery, which is the mystery of a young girl
discoveringhermaturingemotionalintuitiveside.

Hercouragefailsher,however,whenshefirstseestheBeast,andshepassesout.
Hecarrieshertoherroom,andastheypassthroughthedoorway,Beauty shumble
attireistransformedintoaroyalgarment,glitteringwithjewels.ButitisBeautyherself
that is transformed, and she will never be the same again. She awakens to see the
Beastsfaceabovehers,andcriesoutinhorror,butdoesnotloseconsciousness.
Deeplyaffectedbyherpiercinggaze,theBeastbacksoutofherroom,begginghernot
tolookhimintheeyes,anattitudethatwillberepeatedduringthecourseofthefilm.
Uponleaving,hetellsherthatshewillnotseehimexceptatsevenintheevening,when
hewilljoinherfordinner.Again,hebegshernottolookhimintheeyes.

Whileatdinner,heappearsandleansonthebackofherchair. Heasksifshe
mindshimwatchingherassheeats.Shesaysno,thatheismasterhere.Heinformsher
thatitisshewhorules,andifitisacceptedasagiventhatheisheremotionalintuitive
side,thenitfollowsthatsheisverymuchincommand.IftheBeastsbehaviorwhile
submittingtoherauthorityiscomparedwithhisattitudetowardherfather,itcanbeseen
thattheBeasthaschangedagreatdealsinceBeautysarrival.

Heasksherifshefindshimveryugly,andinkeepingwithhermaturinganimus,
shetellsthetruth.Heasksheraquestionthathesayshewillrepeateverytimehesees
her:ifshewillmarryhim.Sherespondsinthenegative.Thisisanimportantrequest,
since,inJungianterms,themarriagesymbolizestheidealbalancingofmasculineand
feminineenergythatwillcreatehappyfulfillmentattheendofthefilm. Beautys
couragedoesnotdesertherwhen,frightenedbythescreamingandhowlingofanimals,
shewalksinhernegligee,downthecorridoroutsideherroom.ThedishevelledBeast
walksby,hisfaceburiedinhisclawswhicharesmoking.Beautywatchesinhorroras,
anguished,heleansagainstherdoor.Heenterstheroomlookingdesperatelyforher.
Whenhedoesnotfindher,heconsultshermirror,whichrevealsBeautyedgingdown
thesideofthehall,listeningintently.

Sheentersherroomandangrilyaskshimwhatheisdoingthere.Sheordershim
toleave,andhedoesso,managingtoleaveajustconjuredpieceofpearljewelrybehind
asagift.Forthefirsttimeinthefilm,Beautyhasestablishedboundaries,validatingthe
Beastsstatementthatsheisindeedincharge.

BeautyrespondspositivelytotheBeastsrequestthatshewalkwithhiminthe
garden,andtheyholdhandsaloftinacourtlypromenade. Thisisthefirsttimethey
touch,andisagrowingmanifestationofansensualemotionalbonddevelopingbetween
them.Thisbondgrowsassheholdswaterforhimtodrinkfromapond.Heasksifthis
act disgusts her, and she replies No, I like it, which infers an erotic pleasure
betweenthetwothatwillbeintensifiedthroughoutthefilm.

Thepositiveenergywithwhichthelastsceneendscharacterizesthebeginningof
thenextscene:theBeastislatefordinner,andisgratefultoBeautyfornoticingthis.
Sheisanxiouslyawaitinghimbecauseshehasarequesttomakeofhim.Shethrows
herself at hisfeet andclutcheshiscloak. Hisprofounddismayatseeingher abase
herselfbeforehimcauseshimtoraisehertoherfeetandstate: Ishouldbeonmy
kneestakingordersfromyou.

Shemissesherfatherterribly,andbegstovisithim,andthedesperationofher
requestrevealsthatthematuringBeautystillhasayounggirlsemotionaldependency
onherfather.TheBeastasksherthatifheletshergowillshemarryhimonherreturn.
ThemanipulativeaspectofthisconditionimpliesthatBeautysanimusfigurealsohas
somematuringbeforehim.Sheproteststhatheistorturingher.Hesaysthatheknows
heisrepulsive,butthathewoulddieifshedidnotreturninaweek.

Shepromises,sayingsherespectshimtoomuchtocausehisdeath.Hisgrowing
sensitivitycauseshimtocommentonhercondescensionandhesays, Youcoaxmeas
Iwereananimal. Shegentlyrepliesthathe isananimal. Herreplyshowsthatshe
stillseesagulfbetweenthem,anddoesnotyetrealizetheirprofoundrelationshipand
mutualdependency.

Hesayshemustthinkaboutthis,andaskshertowalkinthegardenwithhim.
Sincethegardensymbolizesharmonyofelements,aplaceofgrowthwhereinnerlifeis
cultivated,theirdialoguehereisrevealing. Heasksifsomeonehasalreadyaskedfor
herhandinmarriage. Sheanswersintheaffirmative. Hethenaskswhyshedidnt
marryhim,andshesaysthatshedidntwanttoleaveherfather. Whensheanswers
hisrequestforthemansname,herespondswithacryofpainandrunsawaythrough
thetrees. Hisinappropriatereaction,acharacteristicofthenegativeanimus,possibly
hassomeconnectionwiththelatertransformationofAvenantintotheBeastattheexact
sametimewhentheBeasttakesonthegoodlooksofAvenant.SincetheBeastisher,
hisbringingupthesubjectofAvenant,showsthatBeautyisconsideringherrefusalto
committoAvenant,andhercloserelationshipwithherfather.

Beautyislyinginbedwhenshehearsanoiseatherdoor.Openingthedoor,her
raisedcandelabrarevealsthedishevelled,bloodyBeast. Hebegsherforgiveness,and
when she asks for what?,he says for being a Beast. The blood and his
smokingclawssuggesthewasoutkillinganimals(smokeoftensymbolizesdeath,i.e.,
thesoulleavingthebody).Thatshehasnotyetacceptedhisanimality(andherown)is
showninherdisgustinorderinghimtocleanhimselfup,andherpiercing,judgmental
gazewhichburnshim.Heleaves,cringinginshame.

ThefactthatBeautyilluminesadarkmysteryisacourageousresponse;however,
her reaction to the experience shows that she still has to integrate what has been
illumined. RobertA.Johnson,inhisbookShe,UnderstandingFemininePsychology,
treatstheErosandPsychemyth(theclassicalsourcefortheBeautyandtheBeaststory)
andsaysthatPsychehadtwochoicesindealingwithEros,herphantomlover:thelamp,
which illumines, and the knife, which her envious sisters had given her to kill her
unknownnocturnalvisitor.Psychechoosesthelampofunderstanding,whichisproven
tobebyfarthepreferable,morecreativeoption.

Beauty,knowingherfatherisill,begstheBeasttoallowhertoreturnhome.
Seeingherwastedcondition,heagrees,andsheaccedestohisrequestthatshereturn
withinaweek.Hesaysthatifshedoesnotreturn,hewilldie,andallhisricheswillbe
hers.Asproofofhisdevotionandtrust,hegivesherthekeythatunlockshistreasure
room,themirrorthatwillshowheranythingshewants,andtheglovethatwilltransport
heranywhere.

Puttingontheglove,shefindsherselfatherfatherssickbed.Theirresulting
conversationrevealsherdeepsympathyandaffectionfortheBeast,andclimaxeswhen
shetellsherfatherthattheBeastisgood.Shesaysthathissadeyesmakeherwantto
weep,andthatshewouldbehappyifshecouldmakehimforgethisugliness.Atearon
herfaceturnsintoadiamond,andothersfollow.Shetellsherfatherthattheyareagift
fromtheBeast,andthathemustnotlethersistersseethemortheywillstealthemfrom
him.
 Thissceneisimportantforseveralreasons:itshowsthatBeauty,inreturning
home, is integrating the magical world of the Beast (her subconscious), with the
everydayworld(herconscious).Italsoshowsthatsheisadmittingthetruth,forthefirst
time,aboutherevilsisters,andhasstoppedplayingherroleastheinnocent. Thisis
another step in her maturation, since telling the truth and being oneself are both
functionsofthepositiveanimus.

Her fathers energy returns, and he leads her outside to where her sisters,
brother,andAvenantaredoingthelaundrypreviouslydonebyBeauty. Theenvious
sistersleavetodress,andBeautynarratesallthathastranspiredsinceshelefthome.
Sheinsistsshemustreturninaweek.Ifshedoesnt,shewillbetheBeast.Thisisan
incipientawarenessofexactlywhatwillhappen.

Herpivotal,selfrevelationtowardtheendofthefilmishereanticipated.Beauty
doesnotkeepherpromise,because,hersisters,withusualselfishintent,insistthey
cannotlivewithouther.TheystealthekeytotheBeaststreasury,andgiveittotheir
brother,Ludovic, andAvenant. The Beast sends his magic horse,Magnifique, to
remind Beauty, who has reverted to her humble slaves role, that she is late in
returning.Thefollowing,fromEmmaJung,showstheconsequencesofthisbackward
movement:

...ifthepossibilityofspiritualfunctioningisnottaken
up bytheconsciousmind,thepsychicenergyintendedforit
falls intotheunconscious,andthereactivatesthearchetype
oftheanimus.Possessedoftheenergythathasflowedback
intotheunconscious,theanimusfigurebecomesautonomous,
so powerful,indeed,thatitcanoverwhelmtheconsciousego,
and thusfinallydominatethewholepersonality.

Ludovic andAvenanttake the horse,whohas brought the Beasts magic

mirror,totheBeastspalace,wheretheyintendtorobthetreasuryandkilltheBeast.
Beautysmaturationisimpededbyherwrongfulpassivityingivingintohersisters
insincererequest,althoughsheknowstheyarenottellingthetruth.

ThesisterstauntinglygiveBeautythemirror,saying, Seetheuglinessofagirl
whobreaksherpromises.ThecameracrosscutstotheBeast,whosensuouslyruns
his fingers through the fur coverlet on Beautys bed, while, in a companion shot,
Beautypressesthemirrortohercheek.Thisimportantbalanceinthetwoshotsshows
thegrowingeroticismintherelationshipbetweenthetwo,whichmeansthatBeautyis
acceptingherirrational,intuitiveside.
 Beautylooksinthemirror,andseestheBeastdying.Althoughfrustratedinher
searchforthekey,sheputsonthegloveandreturnstotheBeastspalace. Shefinds
himlyingattheedgeofthepool,dying.ShethenadmitstobeingtheBeast.Thisisthe
pivotalmomentofthefilm,andcausesallsubsequenttransformations.Herconfession
isimportantforseveralreasons:notonlydoessherecognizeherguiltintheBeast s
death,but,atthesametime,sherecognizesthatheisapartofher.

Attheverysamemoment,AvenantandLudovic,havingdecidednottousethe
doortothetreasury,decidetoenterbysmashingtheglassintheskylight.Thestatueof
Diana,whoguardsthetreasury,becomesanimatedandpiercesAvenantwithherarrow
asLudoviclowershimfromtheroof.AvenantimmediatelyturnsintotheBeast,andthe
Beast,hisenchantmentbroken,takesontheappearanceofAvenant.

ThePrinceexplainsthathisparentsdidnotbelieveinfairytales. Thefairies
punished their son, and he could only be saved by a look of love. This can be
interpretedashisparents denialofanythingthatcouldnotberationallyproven,and
thathewasaffectedbytheconsequencesoftheirprejudice:theworldoftheirrational
tookitsrevengeontheirson,andthathecouldonlybesavedbyanactionthathas
nothingtodowithreason,alookoflove.

Beautyasks aresuchmiraclespossible? ThePrinceanswers, Wearethe

proof.AsareferencetothemutualtransformationoftheBeastandAvenant.Hesays,
LovecanmakeaBeastofaman.Itcanalsomakeanuglymanhandsome.

Inresponsetohisprobingquestions,sherevealsthatshedidloveAvenant(which
she had never admitted before) but also that she loved the Beast. He asks if his
resemblancetoAvenantdispleasesher,andsherepliesatfirstaffirmatively,then,after
somethought,shesaysno.ThisgrowingthoughtfulnessshowsthatBeautyislooking
at her own feelings, and getting in touch with them, rather than simply reacting to
externalstimuli.Heasksifsheishappy,and,inkeepingwithhernewfoundintegrated
self,sheresponds: Iwillhavetogetusedtoit. Heasksifsheisafraid,andshe
replies,wisely Idontmindbeingafraid......withyou.Thisindicatesthatshehas
noneofthefearmanifestedearlyinthefilm,andthatlovehascastoutfear.

Beautysdevelopmentofheranimus,theBeast,aswellasnewfoundhonestyis
integratedwithEmmaJungssummingupofthefourstagesoftheanimus:

...forwomentheanimusappears...asalightningchange
artist whocanassumeanyformandmakesextensive
use ofthisability. He is ostensibly a minister, a man
 of theWord,orlogos(knowledge,consciousness.)
AccordingtoEmmaJung,theanimusexhibitsfour
stages ofdevelopment,dependingonthewomans
stage ofmaturationorhernaturalgifts.Thefirstis
the manofpower,thenextthemanofaction,the
third istheword,oftenappearingasaprofessor
or clergyman,andinthefourthmanifestation,the
highest level,hebecomestheincarnationofmeaning.
Hegivesthewomanspiritualfirmness,andconnects
the womansmindwiththespiritualevolutionofherage.

SincetheBeastisBeauty,hisuseofwordswithanunderstandingoftheirtrue
significanceasappliedtoaspecificsituationshowsgrowthonhispartwhichisalso
growthonthepartofBeauty. Beautysgrowthisreflectedinherattainmentofthe
thirdstage,word,andthefourthstage,meaning,sinceBeautyfinallyuseswordswitha
senseoftheircorrectmeaning.

TheBeast,havingceasedtoexist,becomessototallyintegratedwithBeautythat
sheacceptshermarriagewiththePrince,aJungiansymbolforhernewlyintegrated
personality. Beautyhaschallengedherbehavioralandemotionalpatterns andinso
doing,exhibitsthecourageandtruthfulnessthatarebothcharacteristicsofthepositive
animus. Now,sheherselfisabouttoexperiencethehappinessthatshehadtriedto
provideforothers.