Gaston

"I could never really give my heart to someone as superficial as he."

- Belle

Sir Gaston is a minor character in the show Once Upon a Time. He was set to marry the lovely and fair princess Belle before she was sent away to work for Rumplestiltskin.

Before The Curse
Sir Gaston is shown with King Maurice as it seems all hope is lost in the war, a noise is soon heard at the door. Gaston, the king and Belle appraoch it but ntohing is there when it is opened, they turn to see that Rumplestiltskin is sitting in the throne. As the king and Rumple converse, Gaston begins to draw his sword, and, when Rumple names his price of defeating the ogres as Belle, Gaston puts his foot down. He tells the deal maker that Belle is engaged to him but Reumple reminds Gaston that that's not what he asked. Belle agrees to go, and, when her fiance and father try to stop her, she reminds them that she chooses her own fate. Later, Gaston shows up at Rumple's palce for Belle, however, Rumple, who has grown a fancy towards Belle, is completely unthreatened and uses his magic to turn Gason into a lovely red rose. Rumple gives the rose to Belle who is appreciative, he asks her about her betrothed and she tells him that her and Gaston's relationship was that of an arranged marriage and that she could never really give her heart to someone as superficial as he.

Origins
The character of Belle, fiancée of Gaston, is based on the homonymous character of the popular fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. The first published version of this tale was a rendition by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, in 1740. There are many adaptations of the story, the most popular - and the one followed closely by Once Upon a Time - being the 1991 film adapation by Walt Disney Animation Studios. The general story is that of a young beauty who is promised to care for a horrifying beast, in his sumptuous home. The woman, Belle, eventually melts the cold heart of the beast, and they fall in love with each other. The beast then gives her the choice to stay with him or go back home, and Belle chooses to return to her family. However, she comes back after learning that the beast is in pain. It is then revealed that the monster used to be a handsome prince, who was cursed and transformed into a horrifying creature and, should he be unable to find love even in his hidious new form, he would perish untimely. Belle's kiss of true love reanimates the beast and breaks the curse, allowing him to revert to his previous human form, and they then marry and live happily ever after. In Once Upon a Time, Rumplestiltskin, the antagonist of yet another fairy tale, assumes the role of the "beast".