Exploring the Symbolism of the Heart in Howl's Moving castle
I finally watched Howl's Moving Castle, and I am fully obsessed. It was full of stunning, unique and memorable animation (as all Ghibli films have) and a heartfelt, intense story. There were many intense emotional moments in the film, both for the characters and for the viewer, but none seem as important as those revolving around Howl's heart. Needless to say, this will be full of spoilers. The movie was fantastic, so I highly recommend watching it first before reading. At the beginning of the story, Sophie talks to her sister about meeting who she believed was the rumored Howl. Her sister warns her of Howl, saying he will eat her heart. Yet Sophie seems unworried, saying that Howl only eats the hearts of beautiful girls, and she has never considered herself beautiful. From the very beginning, the idea of hearts and Howl are connected. They stay closely connected through the story, and they are often connected through Sophie and her actions (often reflecting he...