Sandy Supposes....

Beauty and the Beast

May 15th prompt: Many fairy tales are often based in truth. Research the true story behind your favourite fairy tale and share with your readers. What lesson or warning was the tale trying to impart?

         First, choosing a favourite fairy tale caused me to stop and reread a few. I wanted to refresh my memory. I like the basic story behind Beauty and the Beast. So, I then lost myself in research. As always, I'm amazed what can be found online. Thanks Google!

         So, what did I discover could be the truth to one of my favourite fairy tales? It dates back to 1537 and a boy named Petrus Gonsalvus living in Spain. Apparently, he was believed to be a beast because of his all-over body hair due to a condition known as hypertrichosis, or more commonly werewolf syndrome. News of his unique appearance reached King Henry of France who summoned ten-year old Petrus to his court. There the boy was groomed to be a nobleman and when the king died his wife Catherine de Medici found a wife, also named Catherine, for Gonsalvus.

         This is where the concept originated. A beauty learned to love 'the beast.' This couple celebrated a forty-year marriage that produced seven children. Four of their offspring inherited the werewolf syndrome.

         Basically, this tale teaches that looks are deceiving and that true beauty comes from within. I also believe it encourages a belief in magic wherein falling in love is magical.