pan's labyrinth reflection questions

1. Watches and time: What is the symbolism and backstory to Captain Vidal’s watch? Why is it an important plot device?


- The watch is there to symbolize how Captain Vidal's fascist views are. It shows that he likes order and schedule as well as a sense of time. This also represents that he likes everything to be exact in time as well as his plans. When Ofelia is killed, soon after Captain Vidal is killed. When he is killed, he breaks his watch leaving it to show the time of his death.


2. Keys: Keys seemingly play a “key” role in the film. Ofelia uses a key to obtain the sacred dagger; Mercedes gives a key to her brother to open the storage shed for supplies; you might assert that the chalk was a portal of sorts to the lair of the Pale Man. Discuss the symbolic importance of keys to the film.


- Ofelia's uses chalk to make doorways into the world she creates. The symbolic meaning of this her saving herself. When time was up, she was almost killed by the Pale Man. The chalk was then again used as the doorway to insure her safety. Another example of the symbolic importance of the keys is when Captain Vidal asks Mercedes if the key he has is the one and only key. She says it is, but she has a duplicate of the key for her brother. This represents her disloyalty to Captain Vidal and how she has been working for the other side the whole film.