Monsters Just Want ♥?
March 14, 2012 8:26 PM Subscribe
How many classic Beasts were killed or suffered misfortune because of Beauty? Along the line of King Kong, Frankenstein's monster, the Creature (from the Black Lagoon), the Phantom (of The Opera)... &c.?
Not to state the obvious, but it depends on how you define 'classic beasts.'
posted by box at 8:46 PM on March 14, 2012
posted by box at 8:46 PM on March 14, 2012
I always consider the Little mermaid as this kind of thing (the real one not the disneyfied fake one)
posted by mrgroweler at 8:53 PM on March 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by mrgroweler at 8:53 PM on March 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Frankenstein's monster wasn't killed off because of a beauty, he pursued his master to the ends of the Earth because Frankenstien refused to create a mate for him, then wandered off to die after Frankenstien died. He was pretty eloquent about it too (this would be the monster from the original tale, not Hollywood's version).
As usual, tvtropes has you covered on this too. You might find what you're looking for there.
posted by patheral at 9:00 PM on March 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
As usual, tvtropes has you covered on this too. You might find what you're looking for there.
posted by patheral at 9:00 PM on March 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Not to state the obvious, but it depends on how you define 'classic beasts.'
Aw, you know, use your own discretion and take liberties. I won't whip you with a wet noodle unless you get too far out of line.
posted by Shane at 9:21 PM on March 14, 2012
Aw, you know, use your own discretion and take liberties. I won't whip you with a wet noodle unless you get too far out of line.
posted by Shane at 9:21 PM on March 14, 2012
Response by poster: Frankenstein's monster wasn't killed off because of a beauty...
But did you see the look on his face when the Bride rejected him? Awwww. Yeah, I'm thinking more pop culture, although I love Mary Shelley.
posted by Shane at 9:24 PM on March 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
But did you see the look on his face when the Bride rejected him? Awwww. Yeah, I'm thinking more pop culture, although I love Mary Shelley.
posted by Shane at 9:24 PM on March 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Samson, of Samson & Delilah.
posted by fuse theorem at 9:30 PM on March 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by fuse theorem at 9:30 PM on March 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
If biblical figures count, then King David, over Bathsheba.
In mythology, the Minotaur demanded the sacrifice of youths in its maze (until Theseus came along and topped him). Narcissus fell in love with his own image.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 10:33 PM on March 14, 2012
In mythology, the Minotaur demanded the sacrifice of youths in its maze (until Theseus came along and topped him). Narcissus fell in love with his own image.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 10:33 PM on March 14, 2012
Certainly the Wolfman. One tradition is that a lycanthrope can only be killed by a silver bullet, fired by someone who loves the lycanthrope.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:32 PM on March 14, 2012
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:32 PM on March 14, 2012
Although it doesn't really count as a classic, the movie Shrek comes to mind.
posted by costanza at 2:22 AM on March 15, 2012
posted by costanza at 2:22 AM on March 15, 2012
The swamp thing
the hulk - and betty
and of course, beast, from beauty and the beast (though in the end, the beast is saved by beauty)
posted by Flood at 4:57 AM on March 15, 2012
the hulk - and betty
and of course, beast, from beauty and the beast (though in the end, the beast is saved by beauty)
posted by Flood at 4:57 AM on March 15, 2012
In the original Wolfman movies (Werewolf of London and the Wolfman of 1941), the curse of the wolfman is that, in creature form, it is driven to seek out and kill that which it loves the most, which is inevitably a beautiful woman.
The man so cursed is naturally horrified by this, and tries to escape his fate (because, traditionally, the victim of the wolfman/werewolf curse is also at heart a Good Man, thus the whole, "Even a man who is good at heart and says his prayers at night..." rhyme).
He cannot escape his fate, and when the curse takes hold of him at the full moon, he attempts to attack the woman, and is inevitably killed, reverting, in death, to his human shape.
So, it is canon that a good man's love for a beautiful woman is the true tragedy of the curse of the Wolfman, because he must either kill her or die in the attempt.
posted by misha at 7:55 AM on March 15, 2012
The man so cursed is naturally horrified by this, and tries to escape his fate (because, traditionally, the victim of the wolfman/werewolf curse is also at heart a Good Man, thus the whole, "Even a man who is good at heart and says his prayers at night..." rhyme).
He cannot escape his fate, and when the curse takes hold of him at the full moon, he attempts to attack the woman, and is inevitably killed, reverting, in death, to his human shape.
So, it is canon that a good man's love for a beautiful woman is the true tragedy of the curse of the Wolfman, because he must either kill her or die in the attempt.
posted by misha at 7:55 AM on March 15, 2012
The unicorn is an early frontrunner.
Dracula is an outlier: he might have escaped the pursuit of Van Helsing had he not had a sweet tooth for the ladies Mina & Lucy.
Werewolves are a special case; their fate often intertwines with a woman's love. Marie de France tells of one condemned to live his life full-time as a werewolf, when his faithless wife steals his clothes during one of the monthly visits of his curse. He is redeemed by the love of his king.
The Mummy (Boris Karloff) sought the reincarnation of his beloved. There weren't enough bandages in the world to save him.
Mr. Hyde in fact stands out in my mind as a nearly unique monster: his fate had very little to do with women. I think he might have ravaged one along the way, but, hey, who amongst the monstrous hasn't? 1(Ironically, the Invisible Man hasn't...)
posted by IAmBroom at 8:56 AM on March 15, 2012
Dracula is an outlier: he might have escaped the pursuit of Van Helsing had he not had a sweet tooth for the ladies Mina & Lucy.
Werewolves are a special case; their fate often intertwines with a woman's love. Marie de France tells of one condemned to live his life full-time as a werewolf, when his faithless wife steals his clothes during one of the monthly visits of his curse. He is redeemed by the love of his king.
The Mummy (Boris Karloff) sought the reincarnation of his beloved. There weren't enough bandages in the world to save him.
Mr. Hyde in fact stands out in my mind as a nearly unique monster: his fate had very little to do with women. I think he might have ravaged one along the way, but, hey, who amongst the monstrous hasn't? 1(Ironically, the Invisible Man hasn't...)
posted by IAmBroom at 8:56 AM on March 15, 2012
The Little Mermaid
posted by kettleoffish at 4:46 PM on March 15, 2012
posted by kettleoffish at 4:46 PM on March 15, 2012
In the original version of The Frog Prince, the princess throws the frog against the wall, breaking the spell. (see Frog Kings)
posted by xyzzy at 8:05 PM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by xyzzy at 8:05 PM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by cazoo at 8:41 PM on March 14, 2012 [1 favorite]