Character Progressions In Spirited Away

Have you ever been in love? If you have, then you know that love is the force that can change someone’s life. If not, you will learn that love can make you do crazy things or change your life for better or for worse. In Spirited Away, director Hayao Miyazaki illustrates the power of love as a driving force for change. One can clearly see this by analyzing the character progressions of Chihiro, Haku, Yubaba and Zeniba—four prominent characters throughout the film. Chihiro starts as a spoiled and overprotected young girl. She is very mad at her parents for making her move to a new town. Chihrio doesn’t realize that under her childish behavior is some maturity and wisdom. She follows values and rules that she knows is important, even when she

He is actually a lost river spirit. He can take the form of a white dragon. In his guise as a white dragon his appearance suggests a river. He expresses both bravery and sadness. The river, Haku represents, was drained and paved over to build an apartment complex. Haku is a lost soul. He has made a home of sorts at the bathhouse; he has memories of a past home. The loss of a home haunts him. The way Haku treats Chihiro is sometimes kind and other times gruff. It is learned later that Yubaba controls Haku through a slug planted in him. Haku can be powerful and is weak. He cannot remember his name. Causes of this, he can never leave the spirit world. He is completely under Yubaba’s control. Haku’s initial kindness toward Chihiro serves him well. Sen pauses in her quest to save Haku. Haku saved Chihiro once from drowning in the Kohaku River. Sen and him develop a loyal and deep friendship. They love each other like brother and sister. Because Haku cannot remember who he is, he relies on Sen to remember and his kindness towards Sen makes her determined to do so. Sen does remember Haku’s true identity, which gives Haku the power to break free of Yubaba’s control. It is not known what Haku’s fate is, but the movie implies he has found freedom and