A closer look at Joyce's "Eveline" and "Beauty and the Beast" from a feminist perspective, shows the many stereotypes of women present as powerless, in need of saving, of male oppression, of caring only about appearance and of female characters portrayed in humiliating ways as foolish and weak. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In Eveline, a prevalent stereotype is that of helpless women, damsels in distress, and in need of saving. Eveline's indecisiveness and subsequent lack of action is a result of the role of women in society during that time period. Society indirectly tells her that she is helpless and that is why she feels this way. This feeling of inadequacy is partly why Eveline is unable to make a decision and feels as if she needs a male figure like Frank to "save" her from her current circumstance. Eveline sees marriage to Frank as a way to gain consideration, which tells readers that she is somewhat helpless without a husband. The text reads: “But in his new home, in a distant and unknown country, it wouldn't be like this. Then she would get married... her, Eveline. Then people would treat her with respect. In the text, readers see that he is trying to decide whether or not to leave. He reasons from his rights, saying things like “Why would he be unhappy? He had the right to happiness." This need to demonstrate his thirst to be happy is a consequence of feeling helpless due to the social repression of his society. Society has told her that she should be a caretaker and should be guided by the needs of others instead of her own. Eveline cares for her father and his two children and feels guilty leaving for her own happiness, knowing that they depend on her. This puts her in a helpless situation as she is unable to determine her own future. Unlike Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Belle has an adventurous spirit but feels helpless because she wants more from her life than to be trapped in what her small town has to offer. In the film he states: "There must be something more than this provincial life!" Belle wants to experience more than the narrow, local interests and perspectives of her village. Reading books seems to be an escape from her current reality and helps her gain a better perspective on life from her small town. In one scene he even tells the book's owner, "your library makes our little corner of the world seem big." The stereotype of a damsel in distress and needing to be saved is also portrayed, as viewers can see Belle being taken hostage by the beast. From the opening of the trailer for the film "Beauty and the Beast", the audience is aware of Belle's social expectations and what the occupants of the village think of her. The sunlight hits Belle, highlighting her beauty while the townspeople fawn over her physical appearance. They repeat how beautiful she is, thus creating an example for other women in society to aspire to. Even though Belle is considered beautiful, we learn that most people in her village think she is strange due to her love of reading. We hear of one of the town's women admiring her saying, "No wonder her name means beauty, her looks are like no other" and in response three of the town's girls say "but behind that beautiful facade I fear she is rather strange.” This highlights and shows the stereotype that an educated woman is looked down upon and it is preferable for women to just be nice to look at.