the death of a patriarchal system

Rating: 7/10 (29 January 2007)

Just as something to think about: Pan's Labyrinth, either intentionally or because the director- writer was working unconsciously but coherently, is about the end and beginning of worlds. Fascism is equated with patriarchy, and is embodied by the villain, who passes on his watch (symbol, as in Peter Pan, of man's limited time--his mortality) to his son, the only way he can continue his line. He is completely indifferent to women; he lets his wife die and shoots his step-daughter; in this case, man and the patriarchal system is seen as cruel and based on orders--the absolute authority of the father. When the Captain is killed, Mercedes ends his system, promising that she will not even tell his son his name, thus ending the line of patriarchal cruelty.
Ofelia, on the other hand, represents the resurgence of matriarchy, and of magic. In the film no woman kills anyone. Her blood, which re-opens up the fairly world, is symbolic of her first period. Matriarchy is not necessarily opposed to patriarchy--it is based on egalitarian ideas-- hence her brother will be a prince in the kingdom.