Ideology

• Patriarchy in Pan...
• What was the role of women in Franco's Spain?

  The role of women was reduced to wives and carers, making them second class citizens in the ‘New Nation’ 
• How does Vidal reflect these attitudes?

  Disregards all female characters (Ofelia, Mercedes, Carmen as vessel to carry his son)
• How were women vital to the anti-fascist forces?

  They were pivotal in resisting Franco, fighting on the front lines --> carried on in the film through Mercedes’ character 
• The reason Mercedes got away with helping the Maquis without Vidal noticing is because she’s a second-class citizen to him –invisible
• Yonic symbolism (Ofelia entering tree) meaning:

  -Roots it as a feminine story

  -Ties to fantasy/fairytales having female protagonist on the brink of puberty

  -Symbolic of Ofelia trying to crawl back to the womb/infancy and resist adulthood
• Phallic symbolism (Mercedes stabbing Vidal with knife) meaning:


  Disrupts Vidal’s male domination as Mercedes wounds him with symbol of masculinity 
• How does Carmen comply to stereotypical representation of women in patriarchal society?

  Submissive –does what Vidal says

  Voiceless -few lines

  Physically weak -pregnant and sick
• How is Carmen's compliance presented?

  As negative --> Carmen symbol of oppressed women in Spain
• How does Vidal comply to stereotypical representation of men in patriarchal society?


  -Powerful

  -Ruthless/cruel

  -Believes men are superior to women
• How is Vidal's compliance presented?

  As negative --> represents Franco’s ideology