Similarities Between Jane Eyre And Pan's Labyrinth

The character Jane from Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre and Carmen from Del Toro’s Pan's Labyrinth, are both faced with the pressures from society or dominating individuals. Both have the choice to look within themselves for strength to overcome these pressures. Jane shows the power and independence gained when making this choice, Carmen in contrast shows the consequences and loss of dignity when we allow society to dictate our life. When pregnant Carmen arrives at the mill, Vidal her new husband in an over the shoulder shot , demands that she uses a wheelchair. Carmen insists that she does not need the wheelchair, but soon sits in the wheelchair, giving in to her husband's commands. Also as the film progress and Vidal’s control over Carmen increases,

During the sequence when Jane refuses to stay with Mr Rochester after she learns that he is already married, even though she loves him and her society sees him as her only source of security. A close up shot of Jane’s face lit by candle light in a dark frame is used as Jane says, “I must respect myself”. The lighting on Jane’s face and her dialogue signify that Jane, unlike Carmen, looks inward to find the strength to resist any self compromise from any individual or social expectation. Jane's decision saved her from taking a path untrue to values, that she may later regret. This further was symbolised by a high angle aerial shot of Jane after her departure, in the middle of a crossroad in an isolated landscape. The cross road clearly signify that her departure was her decision alone and that she is control of her position in life. This contrasts with the wheelchair that Carmen was forced to sit in, the wheelchair symbolizes the restrictions her husband and society is able to impose on Carmen’s freedom and mobility. These texts connect in that they comment on women’s position in