The Death of the Beast
Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; and for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. Now I only know in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And with faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.- 1 Corinthians 13:8-13
The Beast being stabbed by Gaston in the 1991 version of this film
When the Beast's castle is under attack by the villagers who are coming to "kill the Beast", he ultimately gives up and admits defeat until he sees that Belle has come back for him. But before he sees Belle, he doesn't fight back; refusing to use his strength and be the monster everyone expects him to be.
The Beast refusing to fight Gaston in the 2017 version of this film
At this point the Beast has discovered what it means to be a human, he knows his inhuman strength could kill Gaston, but he doesn't want to hurt him, as the Beast thinks he deserves to die. When he sees Belle, he comes to understand the meaning of true love, and that is when he stops Gaston- not killing him but telling him to "get out."
The Beast before he lets Gaston go. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
The Beast dies, after Gaston stabs him in the back, finally knowing that he has found true love. "Beast dies in Belle’s arms—dies to himself, you might say—but is resurrected through love, a new man." (Asay)
"I love you" Beauty and the Beast (1991)
The Resurrection of the Beast
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. -1 Corinthians 15:21
The Beast as he is starting to transform back into a prince. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Agathe at the beginning of the transformation. Beauty and the Beast (2017)
The idea that Agathe resurrects the Beast from dead not only shows Agathe's connection to the divine, but also the connection of this story to the Christian religion. The resurrection of the Beast mirrors the resurrection of christ. "She sees Belle profess her love and kiss the beast, and decides then to work her magic, not just lifting the curse, but resurrecting the beast from death." Gould
The Beast transforming back into a prince. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
The Beast finally discovers what it means to be a human person, and is therefore transformed back into a prince.
The Power of Love
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. -1 John 4:18
A drawing of Belle and the Beast at the beginning of the transformation
Since the dawn of time the idea of love being a transformative power has been prevalent- I would argue that this is because of the religious lessons upon which that truth is based. In the 1991 version of this film, the enchantress does not resurrect the Beast, (at least on screen) but the Beast is transformed solely through the power of Belle's love for the Beast. This implication of the transformative power of love is yet another christian theme which is present throughout this story.
"Love is God's own gift to each and every not of us. It is the sanctification of our reality as human beings. It reveals that the highest meaning of life is to be found in our relationships. It beckons us to embrace one another with affirmation, forgiveness, and commitment." (Anderson 96)
Beauty and the Beast (1991)