The Dark Stories Behind Your Favorite Disney Princesses

The classic tales of your favorite Disney movies are as sweet as sugar — from the beautiful relationship in Beauty and the Beast to The Little Mermaid gaining her voice and ending up with the prince. But the origin stories behind these adorable cartoons aren’t as charming as they are made out to be on-screen. Find out where your favorite princesses really began and the darker details behind these Disney movies.

Beauty and the Beast

Originally Published: 1740

Author: Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve

You probably know the story of Beauty and the Beast best from the 1991 film version released by Disney. Although the movie is a fairly sweet take, adapted for children to enjoy, the original story is slightly different. The 1740 version tells the story of a merchant taking a rose from a garden and the Beast demanding he send one of his daughters in place of the rose. 

When Beauty arrives at the castle, she begins to dream of a woman, urging her to look past the Beast’s appearances. The story is fairly similar to that of the Disney movie minus the addition of a jealous Gaston.

Although it’s not confirmed, it is widely thought that Beauty and the Beast is based on the true story of Petrus Gonsalvus, a man who suffered from hypertrichosis, causing hair to grow all over his body. Gonsalvus, born in 1537, was treated as an exotic creature and gifted to King Henry II of France when he was 10 years old.

The Little Mermaid

Originally Published: 1836

Author: Hans Christian Andersen

While we all enjoy the 1989 Disney classic of a young mermaid named Ariel who falls in love with a human, the original story behind The Little Mermaid is a bit darker. While Hans Christian Andersen’s version has the same deal between Ariel and the sea witch, the catch is much worse than Ariel simply losing her voice.

In the original story, in exchange for Ariel’s ability to walk on land, every step she takes feels like she’s walking on sharp knives. Therefore, every moment she spends on land is excruciating.

Another dark detail in the original is that mermaids don’t have souls and that they can only gain a soul if a human falls in love with them. Unfortunately, the prince does not fall in love with the mermaid in Andersen’s tale, rather he falls for the woman he sees on the beach after being rescued by the mermaid. Isn’t that a kick to the gut?

Mulan

Originally Published: Between the 4th and 6th centuries AD

Author: Unknown

The Disney film that we all know and love is based on a poem from a very long time ago, as well as a 1965 novel titled the Romance of Sui and Tang. In each version of the story, Mulan takes on the role of a man so she can take her father’s place in the war. But in the 1965 novel, Mulan returns home to find her father has passed, her mother has remarried and her true identity is discovered.

Mulan is then forced into the role of a concubine, but instead of being destined for that fate, she takes her own life. Why Disney chose this very upsetting story to create a sweet fairytale, we’ll never know, but at least it has a happy ending.

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs 

Originally Published: 1812 

Author: The Brothers Grimm

While the Disney version of this tale is fairly similar to the original from 1812, there are a few details that are slightly different. In the first rendition, the Evil Queen makes four assassination attempts on Snow White, which doesn’t occur in the Disney version. 

Another difference is that instead of the life-saving kiss between Snow White and the Prince, the Grimm’s tale concludes with the Evil Queen being forced to dance in a pair of iron shoes and burning coal. Ouch!

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