Castle in the Sky

One of the themes we talked about in class last week was the theme on class/caste division- such as that between people of the sky (Sheeta) and people who lived on the earth (Pazu). One conclusion we reached was the transcendence of his class status by Pazu, who rose from the "Earthly" to the "Heavenly" by virtue of his connection with Sheeta. However, I feel that this particular relation is especially the way in which we should not look at Castle in the Sky. The foremost reason is that this point of view is one of the past. That is, it is one that existed in the history of Laputa, and not in the present. As Muska recalls to Sheeta, the people of the sky were once superior and mighty leaders of the world and their magic and machines ruled all of the earth. And in those times, the status of being part of the "Sky People" might well have been one that attracted universal desire and admiration but- with the declination of that civilization and the migration from the sky to the earth- not anymore.

In the present, there exist no longer the forgotten people of Laputa, except for two- Sheeta and Muska. There also no longer exist a division in class between those who live above the earth and those who live on it. For now, no one remembers the past glory of Laputa, again except for Muska. Indeed, if there is anyone who attempts to cross between castes it is the evil Muska himself. Muska, as we see in the film, tries all he could to restore the former potential of Laputa and instill within himself all of that power. Thus, Muska attempts to forgo his earthly bounds and reach for the sky, metaphorically and realistically, and create a class that contains only himself (although he also claims Sheeta as part of this caste). But he fails. The reason for Muska's failure has been given throughout the film- it is human's unfailing endeavor to become all-powerful, be it with technology or magic or both. That was the Achilles heel of the old Laputa- the insatiable taste for power- and it is also the downfall of Muska who embodies the brief reemergence of a new Laputa.

On the other hand, while Sheeta may be the heir to the old and powerful civilization- the last of her caste (along with Muska), it is clear that she reviles the aspect of Laputa that is represented by Muska. This attitude has been instilled in Sheeta by her grandmother, who cautioned her to never use her spells unless in grave danger, as well as the old man in the cave (Uncle Pom), who reminds both Sheeta and Pazu that magic originates from the earth, not from the sky. We see this attitude displayed as Sheeta refuses to be the "queen" of Laputa when given the chance and insists on returning to the earth with Pazu. Sheeta, as we come to learn, sees herself as belonging to the earth, and not as royalty that is part of a long lost past. She lives alone on an isolated farm and supports herself single-handedly after the deaths of her parents and grandmother, and does not even find out about her past until revealed by Muska.

And when I look at Pazu, I don't see a boy that is tired and disillusioned with his community. Instead, I see a boy that is surprised and fascinated with the object that has just fallen from the sky, as well as with the stories of his father's adventures. And when given the chance, Pazu jumps on the adventure with enthusiasm- not because of any pejorative feelings for his community, but rather because of the excitement and unknown that lie beyond it. In addition, having seen all of Miyazaki's films, it is never the director's intention, as far as I can tell, to have his characters stand for something as superficial as class status, even though one can read it this way. In contrast, the director's intention here, as in many of his other films, is to highlight the futility in humans' unending search for fame and fortune without regards to the balance of nature (embodied by the sky and earth respectively). Humans are meant to live as part of the earth as one entity, and not separated by class, potential of magic or technology , or illusions of power.