A once wealthy merchant loses his fortune and moves his family to a modest country house. While his proud elder sisters complain, the youngest daughter, Beauty, embraces hard work and brings joy to her father. When the merchant travels to recover lost assets, he loses his way in a storm and stumbles upon a magical, illuminated palace. After resting and eating, he picks a rose from the garden for Beauty before leaving, which provokes the wrath of the castle's master, a terrifying Beast. The Beast demands that one of the merchant's daughters come to the palace willingly to die in his stead, or the merchant must return within three months.
Upon hearing the tale, Beauty insists on going to the palace to save her father's life, despite her sisters' jealousy and hidden delight. Arriving at the castle, Beauty is treated with great magnificence and soon discovers that the Beast is remarkably kind-hearted and gentle beneath his frightening exterior. Every evening, the Beast visits her during supper and asks her to marry him, but Beauty continually refuses, offering only her friendship and expressing her desire to visit her ailing father.
The Beast eventually grants her a one-week visit home, warning her that he will die of grief if she fails to return. Back at home, Beauty's envious sisters plot to make her break her promise by detaining her longer, hoping the monster will devour her in rage. However, a dream of the dying Beast fills Beauty with remorse for her ingratitude. She returns to the palace to find the Beast senseless near the garden canal.
Overcome with grief, Beauty professes her love and agrees to marry him, breaking the spell that had transformed him into a monster. The Beast is revealed as a handsome prince who explains that a wicked fairy had cursed him to remain a beast until a virgin consented to marry him. The fairy rewards Beauty's virtue by reuniting her family, while her malicious sisters are transformed into statues to witness her enduring happiness.
