Gaston, the most terrifying disney villain

It's also 17th century France, and so the message is kind of outdated. Anyone who thinks women can't read needs to start reading themselves.

Can we also mention the fact that a CHILD was cursed for most of his life because he didn't do what a strange old woman wanted?

If the whole village was like Belle, except Gaston and his eccentric but supportive father, would we root for the outsider gaston, bullied and on the fringe because of his unpopular and unconventional views? Would we applaud his strength for maintaining true to himself even against the majorities wishes? I wouldn't. Because it's not about "outsiders" it's about seeing a person you sympathize with or identify with triumph. Values like freedom and equality are not universal. The majority is not always right, but not always wrong. We cheer because the ending validates our beliefs and sees "our side" teach the "backwards savages" to be "civilized." The theme of most history books. It's not about right or wrong, it's about forcing others to submit to our opinion on how the world should be, the opposition always believes they are just as right and that you are just as evil for your views.