Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke

The primary theme of the film is not lost in contemporary times. The battle between nature and the industrial world of man is one that is forever waged. The film places the two side by side in the presentation of Irontown and the forest surrounding it where the Forest Spirit resides. There is an untouched natural beauty of the forest compared to the dark, cloudy industrial town. The color palettes used for the two are in sharp contrast to each other with Irontown seeming dirty. The move of industrialization, of progress is tainting the forest. Representative of this is the ominous shape the boar god Nago takes in the beginning of the film. Twisted by hate and rage, he becomes a monster.

The representation of the two sides of the conflict are Lady Eboshi and San. Lady Eboshi is completely representative of the industrial world. She is similar to the tycoons of the industrial revolution. Lady Eboshi is driven by the greed and arrogance at her own powers. She even goes so far as to believe that she can challenge the gods, most representative when she takes the head of the Forest Spirit. The power of technology as well as the wealth that can be derived from it at the expense of nature is intoxicating. San, on the other hand is completely rejected humanity as seen in the end of the film when she leaves Ashitaka and returns to the forest. Raised by the wolf goddess Moro, she considers herself a wolf. San is comfortable with living with, or rather in nature undisturbed.

However, the conflict is not as black and white in its portrayal. While the industrial world is polluting nature, it is providing opportunities for the people within Irontown. Lady Eboshi may be your traditional industrialist, but she is not completely without a heart. She takes in the dregs of society such as lepers and prostitutes and gives them opportunities to have worth in their lives when the rest of society has abandoned them. Just as industry in the real world provides jobs for people and makes life more convenient for everyone, but also comes at a cost to nature as we constantly have to destroy lands, or pollute them in order to build our skyscrapers and factories. Ashitaka seems to serve as a middle road.

Although he tends to side more with nature, Ashitaka does not abandon humanity. In the end, taking the path opposite of San, he returns to Irontown, to people. He respects nature but he also wants to protect humanity, not destroy or take revenge on them like San. He brings awareness of the conflict, able to see both sides and attempt to mediate the two. Ashitaka's stance is one that people should take as it provides a perspective often lost especially in today's discussion between conservation and industrialization for the benefit of the people in countires around the world.