Princess Mononoke: A Character Analysis

Introduction to Princess Mononoke

Princess Mononoke is one of the most popular classics directed by the legend Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli. Released in Japan in 1997 and later in the United States in 1999, the movie blew up for its phenomenal exploration of the themes of humanity and environmentalism. The film went on to become the highest-grossing domestic film in Japan till 2001.

Princess Mononoke: Plot Summary

The story of Princess Mononoke is set during the late Muromachi period in Japan, where the last prince of a dying tribe, Ashitaka, ventures out of his village in search of a cure after being cursed by a demon boar. During his journey, he comes across Iron Town, governed by Lady Eboshi. She is adamant about making a prosperous settlement by destroying the forest to build mines and guns.

The wolf goddess, Moro, and her adopted daughter San, also known as Princess Mononoke, oppose Lady Eboshi’s plans to destroy the forest. As the enmity between the two parties increases, Ashitaka finds himself torn between two sides and tries his best to reconcile the two sides. His efforts finally pay off as the humans and the forest gods reach an understanding at the end of the film.

Who is Princess Mononoke? – A Brief Character Analysis

Princess Mononoke, also called San, is one of the most important characters in the film. When San was a baby, her parents threw her at the feet of the wolf goddess Moro after she attacked them for damaging her forest. Taking pity on the baby, Moro raised San as her own child.

San grows up becoming extremely protective of the forest. Just like her parents rejected her, San rejects her humanity and believes herself to be a wolf. Her wild personality is expressed well in her haggard appearance. Wearing a mask and a cape made of wolf fur, San is far from the typical image of a "young woman."

However, that doesn’t mean San is not compassionate. She treats Moro and her two wolf children as her own family and is extremely fond of the forest dwellers. This compassion, which is exhibited towards a select few creatures, slowly extends to other people as the film progresses. Her acceptance of Ashitaka’s affection slowly allows her to reconnect with her humanity.

San's title, 'Princess Mononoke,' or Mononoke-hime in Japanese, is quite interesting. Initially, it seems as if San's name is Mononoke since usually the name is attached to the title of the Princess. However, in Japanese, the word 'Mononoke' means supernatural beings that can change their appearance and possess people.

While the term hasn’t been used literally in the film, Princess Mononoke means Princess of the supernatural creatures that live in the forest. However, Hayao Miyazaki flips the concept of a typical princess and allows the female protagonist to break the societal restrictions of femininity, expressing her anger instead of bottling it up to maintain the illusion of gentility.

San’s one-directional motivation to save the forest at all costs results in her being rash, stubborn, short-tempered and fiercely protective. Her desire reaches a point where she is ready to sacrifice her own life in order to protect the forest from evil humans. In a sense, the film’s “antagonist,” Lady Eboshi, can be seen as San’s foil. Both women are driven by the desire to protect their own.

Following the traditional roles of protagonist and antagonist, San is the protagonist. Usually, the protagonist is associated with only positive qualities, such as their ability to forgive, remain cool and composed, and be mature and knowledgeable. But San doesn't possess these qualities. She doesn't think twice about harming human beings who dare threaten the well-being of the forest, and her actions are motivated by her desire to kill Lady Eboshi.

But this elevates San from a flat character to a complex, independent and grey character whom the audience can’t help but root for.

At the end of the story, the viewers don't get the traditional happy ending. San doesn't fall in love with Ashitaka and lives happily ever after with him. She stays true to her beliefs and morals. Even though Ashitaka helps bridge the gap between the humans and the forest dwellers, San admits that she cannot easily forgive the humans for their sins against the forest. This shows that San is firm and doesn’t let her emotions sway her.

Comparing the San from the start of the film to the one who parts with a promise to meet Ashitaka frequently, it’s evident that her character has undergone significant change. She has begun to slowly accept her human side and isn’t controlled by her anger.

Characteristics of Princess Mononoke

Princess Mononoke is not your run-of-the-mill one-dimensional protagonist. Her defining characteristics are –

1. Compassionate

Compassionate might not be the first word that one ascribes to San. Her hatred towards human beings and desire to kill Lady Eboshi can hide the inner compassion that lies within her. But scenes where San takes care of a wounded Ashitaka despite her dislike of humans show she's not a heartless protagonist. Her compassion bursts forth when she interacts with the forest dwellers.

2. Protective

San is protective of the forest to the point where she won’t think twice before sacrificing her own life to keep it safe from humans. After being abandoned by her parents when she was a baby, San grows up as the daughter of the wolf goddess Moro. So naturally, she develops a protective feeling towards the forest that has been her home for seventeen years and the creatures and spirits of the forest with whom she has grown up.

3. Stubborn

San is quite stubborn in her beliefs. She isn’t one to dwell too much on complex thoughts. While growing up as Moro’s daughter, she develops an intense hatred for human beings who have been harming the forest for their selfish desires. Her stubborn nature refuses to see that Ashitaka doesn’t meet the preconceived notions about human beings that she has, and it takes her almost the whole movie to warm up to him. However, in the end, her stubbornness refuses to let her forgive the humans entirely for the harm they did to the forest.

4. Capable

Even though San has been abandoned by her parents at a young age, she is quite capable of holding her ground thanks to the guidance of the wolf goddess Moro. She might be a human, but her athletic abilities are top-notch. She is agile, quite strong and adept at using daggers and spears.  

Princess Mononoke’s Relationship with Other Characters

Princess Mononoke is filled with a vibrant cast of characters who are driven by their own motivations and desires. That’s why San’s relationship with some of the characters in the film provides a clearer picture of what she represents.

1. San’s Relationship with Moro

Moro, the wolf goddess, attacked San’s parents when she found them harming the forest. But instead of protecting their child, San’s parents sacrifice their daughter to save themselves. Moro, taking pity on the baby, decides to raise her as her own. Here, Hayao Miyazaki presents motherhood in its natural form through the unconventional role of the mother, free from the restrictions of society. San's real mother, who is the prim and proper example of conformity to societal expectations, fails to protect her daughter in the face of danger. But the motherly instincts in a beast far exceeds that in a human being. When San is almost consumed by the boar God, Lady Okkoto, Moro doesn’t hesitate to bury her face in the foul corruption emitting from Lady Okkoto’s face to retrieve San, even though exposure to such corruption can be harmful.

Moro cares deeply about the forest and does her best to try and suppress the atrocities of the humans trying to destroy the natural resources. San develops a love for the forest and a hatred towards human beings following Moro's example. But unlike San, Moro is free of judgement. She is wise beyond all humanity and is the epitome of pure motherly instinct.

2. San’s Relationship with the Forest Inhabitants

Since San was abandoned by her real parents as a child, she grew up in the forest as Moro's daughter. Her relationship with Shishigami and the Kodama is in stark contrast to her relationship with human beings. Despite being a human herself, San considers herself a wolf and is extremely protective of all the spirits and animals that live in the forest that she has called her home for seventeen years.

3. San’s Relationship with Ashitaka

Ashitaka is the first human being that San encounters who don't want to harm the forest and use up its resources for selfish gain. At first, it takes a lot of time for San to trust the prince, but she eventually warms up to him and even saves his life when she realizes he is not a threat. With the help of Ashitaka, San discovers her humane side and begins to accept herself as who she truly is. Though the two become friends by the end of the film, San has yet to forgive the humans for the damage they caused to the forest. Though the two go their separate ways, she agrees to meet up with him occasionally.

4. San’s Relationship with Lady Eboshi

Hayao Miyazaki has drawn an interesting parallel between San and Lady Eboshi. Both characters deviate from the "traditional" female role and can be seen as two sides of the same coin. While San represents nature and environmentalism, Lady Eboshi represents industrialization. At the beginning of the film, San absolutely despises Lady Eboshi and her exploitation of the forest and its natural resources.

However, Hayao Miyazaki masterfully depicts them in a symbiotic relationship.

To San, Lady Eboshi isn't merely the villain that is trying to destroy her forest but also represents her parents, who had abandoned her as a baby. For Lady Eboshi, San's anger provides an opportunity for her to vent her own anger. In attacking each other, both women acknowledge the bond that exists between them. View Examples

In conclusion,

Princess Mononoke is a Studio Ghibli classic that delicately weaves the themes of environmentalism and coexistence between humans and nature along with a gripping storyline. The characters are far from being one-dimensional, especially San, also known as Princess Mononoke.

Even though she is one of the primary protagonists of the story, San isn't inherently good or evil. She lies within the grey area where she is willing to kill humans without a second thought and even sacrifice herself in order to save the forest and her pack. San undergoes massive character growth in the film and emerges more mature.