Pan’s Labyrinth is about many things, but what stood out for me was mistakes and disobedience.
The main character was disobedient twice. First through innocence, as a mistake, and from not knowing the consequences. And the second time, deliberately, fully willing to take the consequences including losing her life. And that’s how she passed her test.
She was also disobedient against her step-father, an image of unhealthy use/abuse of power.
In that sense, it is a classic tale of coming of age. First, we are disobedient as an accident, mistake, and perhaps from reactivity. Then, provided we mature into it, we are deliberately disobedient when our integrity requires it, fully willing to live with the consequences even if some of them are uncomfortable. We are willing to let go of something dear to us if the situation, and our integrity, requires it.
This is also a theme in another great movie, The Sacrifice.
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- mistakes and disobedience – pan’s labyrinth
- mistakes
- disobedience
- twice
- first, a mistake, didn’t realize the consequences
- second, deliberate, did realize the consequences, fully willing to live with them, and that was the test
- also, disobedience towards tyrant, unhealthy power, willing to take the consequences
In that sense, it is a classic tale of coming of age. First, we are disobedient as an accident, mistake, and perhaps from reactivity. Then, provided we mature into it, we are deliberately disobedient when that is called for, when our integrity requires it, and fully willing to live with the consequences, including letting go of something dear to us. and fully willing to live with the consequences even if not all of them are comfortable. We are willing to let go of something dear to us if our integrity requires it.