Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-11058666-20150829005318/@comment-25926288-20150829012409

Um, by that logic Regina and everyone else went insane in a loopy day, but they didn't.

First rule, separate Disney Belle from OUAT Belle. SOmehow, people use that a a precedent for this Belle and it doesn't,.

Belle isn't shown to be anyway smarter than Snow, Anna, or even random extra #543654.

So, Belle isn't particularly intelligent, but she's not dumb.........ok, so normal.

This is a Rumbelle topic hidden under a guise of Belle. (Sad that Belle can't get a topic separate from him, but I'm not suprised).

Maurice wasn't shown to be controlling, he was just defensive. Belle wanted to go on adventuress during times a war and that's why he wouldn't want her to go off and get killed. Understanding Moe's perspective (who she forgave in season 3), he sees a wizard capable of all power and so, he's got to believe that Rumple casted a spell, cursed her, or she may not even be the real Belle.

Next point, the town isn't judgemental of her. They do those eyes at Rumple not her. Clearly her making quick friends of Red, Ariel, and dwarves, show that they hold nothing against her.

So, Belle has the whole world to explore, but she's pretty much secluding herself. She is an independent, strong woman that has a call for adventure that decides to reside in a housewife role to a dominate and controlling husband.......So, not a strong female character, but relatively weak.

Milah was strong (wrong, but yet strong) in one instance. She couldn't escape the patriachal society and could not go on an adventure and move because Rumple didn't want to. She was a housewife trapped by marriage from doing what she really wanted. She struck out against it (in a bad way), but that displays some strength.

Belle has the same love of adventure and has the opportunity, but decides to be Rumple's meek housewife. Well, it seems like that. She looks as if she's throwing her dreams away for him. Example lies in 4x06, Rumple doesn't want Belle to be the hero she always wanted and go to Ingrid's lair to save Anna. Rumple disagrees, but Belle compels him to via dagger. (She only got her way because Rumple had to keep up the facade.) This is a moment of strength. Same with the townline scene. But she doesn't really have much more than Rumple as her own character. So, she's a weak or secondary character to the story.

But all this is based on what is seen. Snow looks stupid in letting Regina escape death time and time again, but know it's beneficial that she didn't. That's hindsight. Belle looks stupid and weak for choosing a guy that never made the right choice after a thousand chances, but if they end up happy and together then it'll look great. But that whole thought process is abysmmal! That's not teaching any good lesson whatsoever. It's saying, "Let yourself get taken advantage of, they'll change if you give them chance after chance after chance." So that makes that person seem weak and implyingly stupid for not stopping this from happening.

Belle looks weak since she's a a abnormal growth on Rumple's side, rather than her own person. Weak, tends to look "stupid". Ask David/ Charming, weaker than dominant and controlling Snow, and also is perceived as dumber.