The Pigs

At Yubaba's bathhouse, there are hundreds of pigs that are all humans, who have been captured by the spell because of their gluttony. Yubaba has no problem with the way they have been treated, as she feels that it is their own fault for trespassing and being willing to eat the food of others unasked.

The pigs in the pens, as well as Chihiro's father and mother specifically, represent the dangers of worldly appetites and ignorance. They have all given in to their passions, and these have caused them to lose both their self-respect and their freedom. From the experience of seeing her parents and the pigs, Chihiro learns that prudence, balance and wisdom are needed in order to lead a happy, successful life. She will go on to live a life of fullness and beauty because of the lessons she has learned.

The Sealed Scrolls

When...