Was she the villain?!

Okay, so like many of you, I grew up loving *Beauty and the Beast*. But lately, after rewatching it with fresh eyes, I can't help but wonder: is the Beast truly the main villain, or is there another character who actually fits the bill? It's a total hot take, I know, but hear me out! We all know the Beast starts off as a pretty terrible guy. He's cursed for his arrogance, and then he imprisons Belle. His temper is awful, and he's super demanding. It’s easy to see him as the bad guy because of his actions at the beginning. He literally held Maurice captive and then Belle. Plus, his whole grumpy demeanor and the way he treated his servants, turning them into candlesticks and teacups – imagine being one of them, just trying to work here and suddenly you're an oven! The OCR mentioned "why am I a candlestick?" and "turned him into an oven," which really highlights the plight of the staff. He wasn't exactly a good guy at the start, right? He had a lot of growing up to do, and he was quite a villain to his household. But then there's the Enchantress. She's often overlooked in the villain discussion because she sets the plot in motion, but was her punishment truly fair? She turns a young prince, who might have been arrogant, into a terrifying Beast and his entire innocent staff into enchanted objects. Not just him, but everyone in the castle! She gives him a time limit to find love, or he's stuck like that forever. That seems pretty extreme, almost a dirty heifer move as the OCR might imply about someone who's overly harsh. Was it really just for turning away an old woman seeking shelter? It feels like the punishment didn't fit the crime, especially for the staff who had no say in anything. She essentially cursed a whole household because of one person's rudeness. You could argue she was the one who started all the misery. Of course, we can't forget Gaston, who is undeniably a villain in the traditional sense, obsessed with Belle and willing to harm anyone who stands in his way. He’s the clear antagonist. But when we talk about the initial magical predicament and the moral ambiguity, it often comes down to the Beast and the Enchantress. My personal opinion? While the Beast was flawed, he ultimately learned and became a good guy, even sacrificing himself for Belle. The Enchantress, however, dished out a truly disproportionate and cruel curse, affecting many innocents. What do you think? Who do you see as the real villain in *Beauty and the Beast*? I'm curious to hear your hottake!