Task 1 – Stella C.

Hatred & Rage

In Princess Mononoke, the very first scene is that of a demon charging towards the village of the main character, Prince Ashitaka. The demon, once a god of the forest, is covered with red, blood-like tendrils that latch on to and corrupt anything they touch, including the arm of Ashitaka. They represent hatred and rage: two extreme emotions that are depicted as a writhing, deadly, contagious infection that destroys everything around it, including the creatures and humans it possesses.

Near the end of the movie, it also infects the old, blind, boar god, Okkoto, after he’s attacked by the hunters disguised as his warriors. He’s not only literally blind, but he is also blinded by the hatred and rage he feels towards humans for destroying his forests. He is almost unable to calm down and nearly kills Moro before the Forest Spirit appears before him and he dies at peace. It seems that only death or the Forest Spirit (either by his will or by his death, like at the end of the movie) can release one from this affliction.

Once infected with this rage and hatred, it can be difficult to control. This is evident whenever Ashitaka becomes angry or is about to enter a confrontation with rage in his heart, especially his first confrontation with Lady Iboshi where his infected arm makes him draw his sword. However, it’s not impossible to do so, as Ashitaka has to do so regularly throughout the film. Everyone around him, including San/Princess Mononoke, fears his curse, save Lady Iboshi, who regards it as a mere annoyance.

My Personal Thoughts

This movie had a profound effect on me. The themes of hatred and rage throughout the movie and how they are portrayed really put into perspective just how insidious these things are. A few hateful and rage-filled beings isn’t enough to do much of a difference, but a lot of it can destroy the world. Of course, people can coexist, but hatred and rage are two very hard things to overcome; once you overcome them, though, peace can be possible.