If Gaston truly loved Belle, he would have to change his ways completely. He'd need to stop being so self - centered and brutish. He might start to appreciate Belle's love for books and learning instead of seeing it as something odd. Maybe he'd even learn to read himself and have deep conversations with her about the stories she loves. But it's hard to imagine him changing that much because his pride and his image in the village are so important to him.
Gaston's 'love story' in 'Beauty and the Beast' is not a typical love story at all. He is a character full of vanity. He is used to getting what he wants, and he decides that Belle is the thing he wants most. However, his pursuit of her is not based on love. He doesn't care about Belle's dreams or feelings. For example, when Belle is reading and he mocks her for it, showing he doesn't respect her interests. His love is more like an obsession with having the most beautiful woman by his side to boost his own ego. And his actions towards the Beast are also driven by this false sense of love and his own pride.
The story would take a whole new turn if Gaston and Belle were in a relationship. Gaston, being the way he is, would likely try to mold Belle into the 'perfect wife' according to his standards at first. But Belle, with her strong will, would resist. This could lead to a lot of conflict between them. On the other hand, if Gaston truly changed for Belle, the village might see a different side of him too. However, the Beast would be left in despair, and the magical elements of the story would be disrupted. The story would no longer be about the Beauty and the Beast's journey of love and self - discovery, but rather about Gaston and Belle's struggle to understand each other and make their relationship work in a very different social context.
One idea could be a 'what if' scenario where Gaston has a change of heart. Maybe he realizes Belle's kindness towards the Beast makes her truly special and he tries to make amends for his past behavior. He could start by helping the villagers understand the Beast better instead of leading them to attack the castle.
One interesting plot might be that Gaston somehow gets transported into the enchanted castle with Belle. He then has to learn to live with the enchanted objects and the Beast. This could lead to humorous situations as Gaston tries to assert his dominance in a place where his usual tactics don't work. At the same time, Belle could see a different side of Gaston as he struggles to adapt, and it could change her perception of him too.
Their relationship could be re - imagined as a friendly rivalry. Instead of Gaston being obsessed with Belle in a creepy way, he could see her as a worthy opponent in things like intellectual debates or archery contests. This would change the dynamic between them from one of unwanted pursuit to one of mutual respect.
Gaston's character has a huge negative impact on the love story. He is a major obstacle. Since he is so self - absorbed and determined to have Belle, he creates chaos. He doesn't understand the real Belle and what she values. His presence forces Belle to run away and seek refuge in the Beast's castle. If Gaston wasn't such a controlling and self - centered character, Belle may not have had the experiences she had with the Beast.
He could also be redeemed through a long - term change in his behavior. If he starts to respect Belle's intelligence and independence. He might start to listen to her ideas about the village, like how to improve education or help the poor. By taking her advice and seeing positive results, he would gradually become a better person in her eyes.