this reminds me of the quote I have on my blog site. we need monsters and ghouls and scary made up creatures because it is innate human nature to wonder about the unknown...specifically the interest in the macabre. Monsters and stories of monsters are a form of escapism, and the context in which the monster was created speaks volumes of how the society was structured at the time, and offers a small glimpse into the darker side of a specific point in history.

I read this play in high school. I remember being intrigued by Nora's character and the dynamic between her and Torvald. The way it reversed the gender roles (to a degree) where Nora was the strong willed protagonist who wished to experience the outside world and escape the smothering affection of her older spouse. I never thought of it in the context of the Beauty and the Beast mythos, but it is certainly applicable.