The Dead is a corpse, buried alive. She is afraid to move, an hence, she cannot acquire the keys to unlock the door of her self-imposed prison. She has bartered her sensuality for material comfort, allowing a part of herself to die because she is fiercely afraid. Remaining stagnant is safer than risking her vulnerability.
The Beast is afraid to expose himself. The yearning he has for her makes him weak and he resents it in himself. He has been taught that men are strong and do not show emotions, so he shuts down emotionally in order to cope.Inside he feels in turmoil and out of control and he despises it in himself. His love for her only adds to the churning inside him; thus he pushes her away so that he may feel in control.The Beast is cruel because he loves her intensely, but does not want to.
