There is an symbol in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast that has haunted me for years. Of every aspect of his form the only thing left of him that is human are is eyes.
Its a cliche to say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, but the animators don’t shy away from that image. Instead they use the image as a way to show the slow transformation the Beast goes through to become human again.
One of the first times they show up is when the Beast shreds his portrait. His shame runs so deep he cannot bear to look at what he used to be. He hates his humanness far more than his monstrousness.
Later when Belle shows selflessness and offers to take her father’s place, she sees the beasts eyes for the first time. When she offers to take his place we see the first glimpse of his humanity, if only for a moment. He is surprised at her willingness to give herself in her father’s place. Its his first step back into the light.
When he terrifies Belle, and drives her out of the castle, we see his shame return. His monstrousness has appeared again, and after he realizes his mistake, he covers his eyes in shame.
Throughout the film every major plot point involves the Beast’s eyes. It was obviously a deliberate choice on the part of the animators, but I do not think even they were aware of the depth of the symbol they portrayed.