I think what really shattered my heart is Antoinettes insistence on displaying a paper with her name and her parent's names. Her hands were so tiny, like those of my own daughter and there was such intelligence in her face. She wanted the world to know she was a person despite being treated like a curiosity. No child should live with such cruelty.
The curse of having any medical abnormality at that time was being seen as a "freak". It wasn't until very recently that we came to understand how really wrong that was.
I so agree, David. And I think there are still people who don't understand that. Lots of powerful men calling Greta Thunberg a "freak" because she's autistic.
I so wish it were different now, but as a high school Special Education teacher I can confidently say the majority of people with disabilities are still treated like "freaks" and talked to like pets. It infuriates me daily.
This is exactly the kind of things I want to read on substack. Deep dives into very specific and niche topics. I feel so deeply for this family that was turned into entertainment years later but maybe and hopefully it was done to give them the happy ending they never got
This is sad, definitely awful that it ever happened, but the Disney movie was based on two different much older stories. One was French, and the other was the Brothers Grimm version i believe. Not saying that those stories didn't have their origins in this history, but the Disney movie wasn't orginal.
Oh, this is so sad. Second sad story (Titanic one) I've read today. Real life sure ain't for sissies, to play with Bette Davis's famous quote on old age.
A good bit to soothe this story is that Antoinette Gonzalez was painted by Lavinia Fontana, likely the first career artist in Italy. I think she saw the person behind the fur, and she painted her this way to show her humanity.
I'm French, but thanks to you I learned the French origin of Beauty and Beast. Catherine de Medicis has a bad reputation, but I didn't know about this.
Wow. As always, history is so much darker than we imagine or even know. And, like with Pocahantas, these women's tragedies wrongly became entertainment fodder.
I think what really shattered my heart is Antoinettes insistence on displaying a paper with her name and her parent's names. Her hands were so tiny, like those of my own daughter and there was such intelligence in her face. She wanted the world to know she was a person despite being treated like a curiosity. No child should live with such cruelty.
Yes, the awareness makes it all the more tragic.
The curse of having any medical abnormality at that time was being seen as a "freak". It wasn't until very recently that we came to understand how really wrong that was.
I so agree, David. And I think there are still people who don't understand that. Lots of powerful men calling Greta Thunberg a "freak" because she's autistic.
I so wish it were different now, but as a high school Special Education teacher I can confidently say the majority of people with disabilities are still treated like "freaks" and talked to like pets. It infuriates me daily.
Ignorance is a malady we have a cure for as a species but refuse to take.
As a student I will say— even when we’re not treated like freaks, we’re definitely pitied. Honestly. It’s worse
This is exactly the kind of things I want to read on substack. Deep dives into very specific and niche topics. I feel so deeply for this family that was turned into entertainment years later but maybe and hopefully it was done to give them the happy ending they never got
What a sad story. Such cruelty.
👓This piece is such a great read 🎉No joke!🎈This is wonderful! (ﾉ•ᴗ•)ﾉ❀ヾ(´°◡°｀✿)
Thanks, Jan, I'm glad you like it. Hope you're doing well :)
This is so sad. Those poor children. Their poor parents.
This is sad, definitely awful that it ever happened, but the Disney movie was based on two different much older stories. One was French, and the other was the Brothers Grimm version i believe. Not saying that those stories didn't have their origins in this history, but the Disney movie wasn't orginal.
They do not have their orgins in this story. The disney version is a highly traficked and changed version of the original story also.
Oh, this is so sad. Second sad story (Titanic one) I've read today. Real life sure ain't for sissies, to play with Bette Davis's famous quote on old age.
Wow, I've heard about this couple but not as much of their story as you've written here. It's heartbreaking!
Terrific piece!
Thanks, Joan!
Thank YOU for the great read! I have added your publication to my Recommendations on my “Shattered Lives” series.
Thanks, Joan, that's really nice of you. :)
A good bit to soothe this story is that Antoinette Gonzalez was painted by Lavinia Fontana, likely the first career artist in Italy. I think she saw the person behind the fur, and she painted her this way to show her humanity.
I read this out loud and my 18 year old son was completely tuned in. What a story! He said “ Can you read another one.”
This story is proof of real child trafficking and how Disney has played a role in it, operating right under our noses for years.
Be watchful.
Thanks for posting.
What a heartbreaking story!
I'm French, but thanks to you I learned the French origin of Beauty and Beast. Catherine de Medicis has a bad reputation, but I didn't know about this.
The Spanish Christians brought back Indians from the americas, as slaves and pets for royalty to display.
Humans suck. I’m rooting for the next asteroid
Wow. As always, history is so much darker than we imagine or even know. And, like with Pocahantas, these women's tragedies wrongly became entertainment fodder.