Pan's Labyrinth Essay

Quite often, fairytales are associated with fictional phenomenon or mythical events. This fact does hold true, however, there can be some non-fictional elements found within these fairytales as well. These elements can range from different themes, a common conflict, or a certain event that takes place in the story. A good example of a realistic theme being depicted in a fairytale can be found within the film “Pan’s Labyrinth”. The story of how the daughter of the king of the underworld is reincarnated as the young Ophelia, trapped in a violent and ruthless environment, and later led to a labyrinth where a faun tells her that if she completes three tasks she can return to her status as princess of the underworld. Ophelia is faced with real world

The gun helped him impose fear upon his enemies as well as his followers and men. In doing so, this enabled him to exercise and maintain his power and authority over his soldiers and his house servants. The first instance of Vidal using his gun to take away life occurred near the beginning of the film. His soldiers captured a farmer and his son suspecting them of being a part of the resistance and plotting against the captain. The farmer and his son both confess to rabbit hunting and doing nothing more, but convinced that they are both lying the captain shoots and kills them both. After searching through their belongings and discovering the corpse of a dead rabbit within its contents, Vidal and his soldiers realize that the men were telling the truth. Even after this discovery, no remorse or guilt is shown and he simply tells his men to search more thoroughly and not waste his time from then on. This is the first instance of the theme of loss in the film. It also helps depict how ruthless the captain is by taking the lives of the innocent and showing how he would stop at nothing to achieve his

He kills many men and even captures one to learn that his doctor and house servant are in fact spies and a part of the resistance. After the death of her mother and birth of her baby brother, Ophelia goes as far as to cooperate with Mercedes, Vidals’ house servant, and join the resistance herself in response to her father’s oppressive power. The use of the gun helps embody the dark tone of the movie as well as the theme. To many audiences, the labyrinth is considered a manifestation of Ophelia’s feelings, and an attempt to escape the harsh life that she lives in to enter a better