Guillermo Del Toro’s Way Of Illustrating Disobedience And What It Can Lead To

Ofelia, It’s Your Other Hand: Disobedience As A Martyr In Falangist Spain

The disobedience that led to the deaths of hundreds thousands. The conflict has always been between those brave enough to ignore orders and those who do so blindly. Guillermo del Toro creates a visually stunning world of fantasy, war and disobedience in Pan’s Labyrinth. This theme is woven into the majority of scenes of the film, with both worlds playing a role in this conflict. Del Toro’s fairytale is portrayed by the characters who are defiant through their disobedience. They show how disobedience trumps blind obedience in the two worlds del Toro has created.

Ofelia’s main character, Ofelia, shows the audience the first signs of disobedience. Ofelia’s pregnant mother Carmen is being driven by the characters and they stop before the Spanish Civil War history can be introduced. Ofelia’s disobedience is the first thing she does in the film. Her mother tells her to stay by the car. But, Ofelia ignores this and explores around. Del Toro reveals the audacity of Ofelia’s character immediately, given her love for fairytales and the unconventional world she lives in. Ofelia, with her adventurous spirit, is disobedient, just like the Spanish rebels. Ofelia’s defiance is what makes her fight, as she finds the fairy who serves as her deus-ex-machine and leads her to the magical world where she used to be. Ofelia displays her defiance as she completes the second mission that el Fauno has given her. In one of the most famous scenes in the movie, she repeatedly defies el Fauno. It almost cost her her life. She’s told to listen carefully to the fairies, who will guide and direct her. She must also resist eating anything that is placed in front of her. When she entered the Pale Man’s lair and was trying to decide which door held the dagger, she did not listen to them. Her defiance is ultimately a savage sword. She chooses the correct door, but two fairies die because she ignores their warnings about eating the grape. As with the rebellion, defiance comes with its own sacrifices. The two stories are perfectly juxtaposed to show how defiance and obedience are constantly in conflict. Ofelia finally realizes this at the end of the film when she sees how her defiance was the sacrifice that allowed her return to her kingdom.

Ofelia’s defiance in her final moments of the Labyrinth scene allows the conflict end. She must decide whether she wants to obey el Fauno blindly and sacrifice her baby brother or defy her. The latter will result in her death. Ofelia’s death is the result of defying el Fauno and sacrificing herself for her innocent brother. It may be a sad death, but el Fauno meant it to be that she disobey. The three tasks she must complete are a parallel of the first fairytale Ofelia will tell to her brother before his birth. She tells her little brother about a blue rose growing at the summit of a mountain that, if it were taken, would give immortality to the person who had it. The mountain that it grew on was a poisonous thorny hill. Ofelia climbs the mountain throughout the film. Ofelia explains that men talk about death and pain among themselves, but not about the promise for eternal life. She is willing to sacrifice her life to complete these three symbolic tasks. Vidal’s world, which was based on perfect order and obedience, crumbles when she does.

Del Toro portrays obedience as the right path, but also disobedience is the one that must be taken when the time comes. Capitan Vital follows the rules of this Francoist dictatorship, in 1944 Spain. He was a captain whose duty it was to protect “New Spain” against rebels that were disobedient and wanted to overthrow the regime. Legally, the fascists were justified in killing the rebels. Del Toro, on the other hand, shows Vidal, his men and their barbarism in a number of scenes. These scenes contrast with others that portray the rebels as fighting for Spain’s true interests and the well-being of its people.

Doctor Ferrerio demonstrates how defiance is a more honorable act than blind obedience. Ferrerio has to choose whether to obey Vidal or not, and to continue torturing the rebel he helps. Ferrerio saves the rebel instead of obeying Vidal. Vidal can’t believe that his life would be undermined or disobeyed. “But Captain, to obey-just like that-for obedience’s sake…without questioning…That’s something people like you only do.” Ferrerio’s rebels, Ofelia and Ferrerio question the direction of the film. They ultimately become martyrs to a greater cause.

Del Toro’s fantasy world is built on the foundation of disobedience. Ofelia is able to enter this fantasy world and defy her world. It ultimately saves Ofelia. Del Toro uses disobedience throughout the movie to express the immortality one can achieve if they are courageous enough to enter the labyrinth blindly, but with their eyes opened.

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  • treyknox

    I am Trey Knox, 26 years old, and I'm a education blogger and teacher. I blog about various subjects in education, and I also teach high school English and writing.