Pan's Labyrinth

“Pan’s Labyrinth” resembles a fairy tale in many ways. Ofelia, or princess Moanna, loved reading fairy tales, which her step-father thought were corrupting her. Everything she imagines is that of a fairy tale. A fairy shows her to the faun where she is said to be a princess, another aspect of fairy tales. She was asked to accomplish three tasks so she is does not have to remain a mortal and die all the other humans. At first when she obeys the faun things go well. For example, when she placed the milk with that infant-like person in it under her mother’s bed, her mother was getting better. When Ofelia ate some grapes after being told not to her mother ending up getting very sick from the baby and dies. This shows an aspect of realism. Again, life is not a fairy tale. Things like war and death are unavoidable. The roles of women during this time period are also shown in this movie. It seems that Captain Vidal was not so proud of where his wife came from and was only worried about getting his baby boy to continue on in his footsteps when he dies. The women are constantly cleaning and taking care of everyone. It is clear that he men are in charge. In the end of the movie, after she, Captain Vidal, and her mother are dead Ofelia ends up with her parents in her fantasy world. The story is happy in that sense. She never stopped imagining and believing, which allowed her to return to her fantasy family.