The Villains Read: Gaston

Look at me! Another Princesses Read??? Yes, that is right! Mandy is back at it, and we’re going to try the every other Saturday thing until I get more bursts of inspiration. I figured I would tackle something new…I was going to go with another Princes’s Read, and Prince Adam was giving me the side eye, but I started thinking about a certain other Disney man in that classic. Therefore, this week, we will be featuring…

Gaston!

Before we get any further, if there is anything that you ever want to know about Gaston, just watch this video, and you’ll know it all:

“Gaston” is one of my favorite Disney songs ever, because I mean, I dare you to say that this song is not catchy at all. He’s also one of the scariest villains out there with just how realistic he is in his arrogance, his pompousness, his highly inflated ego, and just general demeaning of women. So, yeah, there’s that.

Besides all of those lovely attributes, the man loves himself. He loves pretty things – and people – and he will do anything to have what he wants. He is obsessed with himself, he treats everyone like crap, and is super super fit. Like, how does that man work out?? He loves hunting and spitting and antlers.

What YA books would be hanging on Gaston’s mantel?

Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Okay, you’re sitting there going, Mandy, this is CHEATING. How is a YA telling about Beauty and the Beast included in Gaston’s list? WHERE IS YOUR CREATIVITY? I’m with you, but I couldn’t NOT include this one. Beauty, in this story, is a hunter. Like, a really good one that Gaston would fall even more in love with. Beautiful and a hunter??? Gaston just found himself in Yeva. And there is a “Gaston” in this book, but he’s actually super nice and lovable and totally handsome – which Gaston would totally agree with that he is, period.

Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan

So, clearly, a man like Gaston would like action, adventure, some fights, and drama. Percy Jackson clearly has that, but do you know what else it has – ARES. That’s right, I totally imagined Gaston as Ares when I was reading this series. DOES HE NOT FIT PERFECTLY? Both men clearly like war and fighting and and hunting and themselves. I’m sure Gaston would think the action and the adventure is cool, but he would biding his time until Ares came back on the scene.

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

Again, Gaston is definitely a fantasy fan, since they are always full of action and adventure. Plus, I feel like he would just be so amazed by magic. He totally was intrigued by the magic mirror thing when he spotted it. I’m not really sure how he would feel about a girl savior (totally think the man is about as antifeminist as it comes). However, I totally think he would love how the Darkling wants to use Alina for her power. I feel he would be like, OOH THIS IS GENIUS. I AM IN.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

So, clearly, the Beast got the best of Gaston and eventually found himself on the losing end of Belle’s affection (ARE WE SHOCKED). So clearly, he would not enjoy the Beast getting the girl, which happened in the first book of the series. SPOILERS: so when Tamlin goes crazy in this book and loses Feyre, Gaston would totally be SO excited since he would feel validated. Plus, I totally feel like he would fancy himself as a buffer Rhysand.

A book Gaston would NOT pick up

The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters

Feminist as all get-up plus seeing men as monsters? Especially men like Gaston? Yeah, Gaston is saying the biggest no thanks.

Want to read more about Gaston?

Well, clearly, you can read about a nice Gaston in Hunted. I’m not quite sure if he appears, but a Tale as Old as Time by Liz Braswell is supposed to be another extension of the movie.

What do you think? What other books do you think Gaston would like or dislike? Is his song a jam of yours? Let’s discuss in the comments below!