Pan's Labyrinth Analysis
Hessah Alsanie
December 04, 2010
El Laberinto Del Fauno
The tale of Pan’s Labyrinth is one of fantasy and symbolism. It is a tale that baffles the pessimists and over joys the optimists. I believe that the overall purpose of the film was to give us an idea of what it is like to see with more than just our eyes. What do I mean one might ask? To truly grasp this story, one must use their eyes to see within the story’s archetypal margins. The story all begins with the eye. At first, Ofelia is traveling with her pregnant mother to her stepfather’s home, but on the way they stop because of her mother’s morning sickness. She gets out of the car and see’s a statue of a faun. She sees the eye has fallen onto the ground and puts it back on. From there, it is clear that she see’s past her physical surroundings and is about to experience an unbelievable journey. A fairy leads her to the Labyrinth that will take hero out of this war-stricken world she lives in. The movie is constantly removing Ofelia from our world and giving her a purpose; something we all aspire for and search for in ideas such as religion or science. There are many bluebeard references in the tale as well, such as the dinner table with the forbidden food that she is warned to not touch. My favorite bluebeard moment is when she returns the fairy cage with only one fairy; it reminded me of the blood stained key or egg. The punishment was to suffer her years knowing that all that awaited her was a bleak mortal life and death, as well as perishing and becoming a forgotten soul. However, like the tale of bluebeard, she is triumphant in the end (supposedly). The pale monster at the table however was seated at the head of the table, just like the Captain was at the dinner scene. The captain was reluctant to give each family more goods than they needed. At the monster’s table, Ofelia represented Spain’s people and their desire to have basic necessities. The monster resembles the captain in more ways
December 04, 2010
El Laberinto Del Fauno
The tale of Pan’s Labyrinth is one of fantasy and symbolism. It is a tale that baffles the pessimists and over joys the optimists. I believe that the overall purpose of the film was to give us an idea of what it is like to see with more than just our eyes. What do I mean one might ask? To truly grasp this story, one must use their eyes to see within the story’s archetypal margins. The story all begins with the eye. At first, Ofelia is traveling with her pregnant mother to her stepfather’s home, but on the way they stop because of her mother’s morning sickness. She gets out of the car and see’s a statue of a faun. She sees the eye has fallen onto the ground and puts it back on. From there, it is clear that she see’s past her physical surroundings and is about to experience an unbelievable journey. A fairy leads her to the Labyrinth that will take hero out of this war-stricken world she lives in. The movie is constantly removing Ofelia from our world and giving her a purpose; something we all aspire for and search for in ideas such as religion or science. There are many bluebeard references in the tale as well, such as the dinner table with the forbidden food that she is warned to not touch. My favorite bluebeard moment is when she returns the fairy cage with only one fairy; it reminded me of the blood stained key or egg. The punishment was to suffer her years knowing that all that awaited her was a bleak mortal life and death, as well as perishing and becoming a forgotten soul. However, like the tale of bluebeard, she is triumphant in the end (supposedly). The pale monster at the table however was seated at the head of the table, just like the Captain was at the dinner scene. The captain was reluctant to give each family more goods than they needed. At the monster’s table, Ofelia represented Spain’s people and their desire to have basic necessities. The monster resembles the captain in more ways