<P> A widower merchant lives in a mansion with his six children, three sons and three daughters . All his daughters are very beautiful, but the youngest, Beauty, is the most lovely, as well as kind, well - read, and pure of heart; while the two elder sisters, in contrast, are wicked, selfish, vain, and spoiled . They secretly taunt Beauty and treat her more like a servant than a sister . The merchant eventually loses all of his wealth in a tempest at sea which sinks most of his merchant fleet . He and his children are consequently forced to live in a small farmhouse and work for their living . </P> <P> Some years later, the merchant hears that one of the trade ships he had sent has arrived back in port, having escaped the destruction of its compatriots . Before leaving, he asks his children if they wish for him to bring any gifts back for them . The sons ask for weaponry and horses to hunt with, whereas his oldest daughters ask for clothing, jewels, and the finest dresses possible as they think his wealth has returned . Beauty is satisfied with the promise of a rose as none grow in their part of the country . The merchant, to his dismay, finds that his ship's cargo has been seized to pay his debts, leaving him penniless and unable to buy his children's presents . </P> <P> During his return, the merchant becomes lost during a storm . Seeking shelter, he enters a dazzling palace . A hidden figure opens the giant doors and silently invites him in . The merchant finds tables inside laden with food and drink, which seem to have been left for him by the palace's invisible owner . The merchant accepts this gift and spends the night there . The next morning, as the merchant is about to leave, he sees a rose garden and recalls that Beauty had desired a rose . Upon picking the loveliest rose he can find, the merchant is confronted by a hideous "Beast" which tells him that for taking his most precious possession after accepting his hospitality, the merchant must die . The merchant begs to be set free, arguing that he had only picked the rose as a gift for his youngest daughter . The Beast agrees to let him give the rose to Beauty, but only if the merchant or one of his daughters will return . </P> <P> The merchant is upset but accepts this condition . The Beast sends him on his way, with wealth, jewels and fine clothes for his sons and daughters, and stresses that Beauty must never know about his deal . The merchant, upon arriving home, tries to hide the secret from Beauty, but she pries it from him . Her brothers say they will go to the castle and fight the Beast, but the merchant dissuades them, saying they will stand no chance against the monster . Beauty then agrees to go to the Beast's castle . The Beast receives her graciously and informs her that she is now mistress of the castle, and he is her servant . He gives her lavish clothing and food and carries on lengthy conversations with her . Every night, the Beast asks Beauty to marry him, only to be refused each time . After each refusal, Beauty dreams of a handsome prince who pleads with her to answer why she keeps refusing him, to which she replies that she cannot marry the Beast because she loves him only as a friend . Beauty does not make the connection between the handsome prince and the Beast and becomes convinced that the Beast is holding the prince captive somewhere in the castle . She searches and discovers multiple enchanted rooms, but never the prince from her dreams . </P>

The full story of beauty and the beast