8 Disney Villains Who Weren't Actually That Evil

8. Gaston Was Just A Product Of The Time

There's no denying it: Beauty And The Beast's Gaston is a bit of a dick - okay a huge dick - but when it comes to placing him on the "evil" scale, he really doesn't rank all that high.

Firstly, let's look at his crimes: he's obsessed with Belle to the point of harassment. He's determined that she'll marry him, even if that's something she's not interested in. Fair enough, these days people like Gaston get a restraining order slapped on them, but back in eighteenth century France, society functioned a bit differently.

I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying that a man pursuing a female was expected.

Secondly, when the woman he loves is kidnapped by - for all intents and purposes - a supernatural beast whose legend is ferocious and terrifying, he attempts to save her. He's TRYING to be the hero.

Gaston genuinely believes that the beast is dangerous, and so rallies the villagers in an attempt to drive him away and make safe their small French village. And what does he get for it? Tossed off a cliff to his demise - a rare death in Disney's classic animations.

The guy was an ass, but he didn't deserve to go out like that.