What would you say to that type of concern that it suggests to girls “stick with that abusive boyfriend, maybe you could fix it”?
It’s such a good question and it’s something I really grappled with at the beginning; the kind of Stockholm Syndrome question about this story. So, I did some reading about Stockholm Syndrome. That’s where a prisoner will take on the characteristics of and fall in love with, in this sort of really strange way, the captor.
Belle actively argues and disagrees with him constantly. She has none of the characteristics of someone with Stockholm Syndrome because she keeps her independence, she keeps her independence of mind. And I also think that there is a very intentional switch where in my mind Belle decides to stay. - Emma Watson