The dominant image in this novel is that of the rose. Roses have a wealth of associations. Affiliated in mythology with Aphrodite, the goddess of love, the rose in Christian symbolism is emblematic of the Virgin Mary, called the Mystical Rose. Medieval legend has it that roses first grew from the prayers of a maiden falsely accused and burned at the stake. Thus, her affinity with roses marks Beauty as a pure and good woman. Roses are more broadly associated with love, with different colors having different connotations. An old woman tells Beauty that roses stand for "the love that makes you and keeps you whole, love that gets you through the worst that life'll give you and that pours out of you when you're given the best instead." This is the kind of love Beauty finds with the Beast. The Greenwitch used to sell rose...