El Laberinto del Fauno themes

Symbolism/ Simbolismo

there is a consistent use of imagery and symbolism in the film, such as the toad being interpreted as the socio-economic condition of Spain at the time. This is further explored at dinner with Vidal and his guests eating extremely well while the rest of Spain is starving. Also, when When there are problems in reality this also affects fiction. This happens for example when Ophelia asks the book to show her what is going to happen now and the book shows her Fallopian tubes with blood, representing that her mother is having problems with the baby. When Ophelia goes to see her mother, it is full of blood

El rol de las Mujeres/ Role of Women

The role of women during Francisco Franco's regime, in which the setting of the film is reflected upon, was gender biased and forced females into roles of housewives and mothers. When looked at in depth, it is clear that these same stereotypes are represented and shown throughout the film. The manner in which Carmen, Ophelia's mother and Vidal's wife, deals with the way she is treated is differently than others in the film. She lacks in self-confidence and bravery which allows her to be pushed around by Vidal. In the first encounter between Carmen and Vidal, he places his hand on her stomach to show his possession and then continues to force her into a wheelchair. Her only protest is a soft "no" and then she succumbs to his pressure. The wheelchair is a symbolic reference to Carmen's character. It represents weakness and the need for someone else to control her. This reflects how women were portrayed during Franco's regime because women were regarded as fragile creatures Vidal believes that her pregnancy makes her frail, which is why e forces the wheelchair.

La obediencia/desobediencia

In El Laberinto del Fauno, Guillermo del Toro uses the theme of disobedience to illustrate and condemn two repressive components of faschism: the patriarchy and the coersion of free will.

When disobedience has a logical reason it has reward. When it doesn't have any justificated motive, it has negative consequences: Ofelia ignores the faries who wanted to open the wrong door. However, she remebers she saw it in a book that she could not open that door. In this case, thanks to disobedience, Ofelia finds the dagger. However, Ofelia eats 3 grapes and in this makes the Pale Man wake up and wat 2 fairies.

The narrator tells the legend of the princess Moanna. Already in this first scene appears the issue of disobedience since the princess fled the underground world. The narrator also tells us the effect of that disobedience: the princess forgot her past, fell ill and ended up dying.

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The world of magic/ El mundo mágico

In the film there are clear differences between reality and the magical world as in real life there was a moment of injustice with the other social classes and you also had to join Franco or die in reality you looked for equality among magical creatures.

Adults do not believe in the magical world and it seems to be a typical belief of children who must leave as they get older.

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Franquist post war/ La postguerra franquista

Introduction of the ration cards thaat there were in the Franco regime.

Cruelty and Violence/ La Crueldad y Violencia

The captain goes to see 2 hunters that have been arrested. this scene shows the authority and the cruelty that happened after the war. The captain finds red propoganda and a pistol that has been shot. The hunters intend to explain that they were hunting rabbits, but the captain doesnt let the hunters explain. With a bottle he kills the son, stabs him in the nose, and after kills the father. Once dead, they find the dead rabbits, which shows that the peasants were telling the truth. Instead of showing a bit of remorse or humanity, the captain demands that next time they do not bother him for things like that. This scene is a reflection of the torture and cruelty of Francoism.

Machismo

Although the captain seems happy to see Carmen, we see tat the first thing he does it to touch her stomach. He diesnt ask her if she is well and he doesnt give her a kiss (although you have to remember that it was prohibiyed to kiss in public) Also, he says "bienvenidos" assuming that the baby is a boy. Yet here, having in the story that the baby has not been born and that both Ofelia and Carmen are women, he should have said "beinvenidas"

Vidal considers women to be inferior and and this is weak point. This is seeen when he grabs Mercedes and tells Garcés to leave. When Garcés askes him if he will be alright, he smiles and says that she is only a woman.

Family/ La Famlia

The captain waits for Carmen and Ofelia looking at the time. When he is informed that they have arrived instead of being haooy, he seems to be angry because they are running late. This reactin is not what we would expect from a man that is waiting for his pregnant wife and whom, pressumably, he has not seen for some time. This leads us to understand that the Captain doesn't want Carmen.

Ofelia prioritises her family over the world of magic. Also this is observed when she doesnt want to kill her brother to achieve the third task.

Fairytales/ Cuentas de Hadas

After having placed the stone and seen an insect Ophelia tells her mother that she has seen a fairy, but she ignores it and scolds her for getting her shoes dirty.

Reading is seen in the film as something negative. Instead of praising Ofelia for reading books, she is criticized and seen as a problem. The only person who seems to appreciate reading is Mercedes.