Lady Eboshi

Lady Eboshi (エボシ御前 Eboshi Gozen), is the lethal and ambitious ruler of Iron Town. She has a vague past, but it is hinted she has suffered tragedy. Her goal is to subjugate the forest for the wealth beneath it; while seemingly villainous, her objective is well-intentioned. She seeks wealth and holds power to help those typically disenfranchised in society. She has a particular soft spot for poor women and the sick (caring for and bandaging the gunsmiths, who are likely lepers). To this end, she is a great leader; those under her return her devotion and deeply respect her for giving them a place without being prejudicial. Her willingness to put others before herself, even faced with the risk of death, contributes to her charisma. She encourages the women of Iron Town to be independent and headstrong, enjoying equal or greater rights than the men.

She treats allies fairly, and is not explicitly vindictive toward her enemies. She does not let them get in her way without answer, however. Where she does plot and orchestrate against them, it is in acknowledgement that they will not otherwise be dissuaded.

One could argue that she is a main antagonist of the film, yet at the same time she could also be considered a hero and helper to the main characters due to her attitude generally being to offer that which she receives. Friends are met with hospitality; enemies with defiance, as dictated by their actions and usually commensurate to the offense. For example, while she cools to Ashitaka after his repeated interventions to stall the growing conflict, she does not go out of her way to harm him.

Personality[]

Eboshi is a soft spoken, calm, composed and relaxed leader who retains her calm even in dire situations. Not even Moro taking an arm did much to upset her. In fact this is one of her most notable qualities as a leader. She is willing to put herself in the same dangers and risk the same things as her beloved Iron Town citizens, travelling with them on roots in order to protect the iron and her people. Because of this she is greatly admired by both male and female alike in her village. Her leadership skills are extremely impressive, as is her deductive ability, intelligence and warfare strategy. Even Moro, and San have had to acknowledge her skills in said department.

One of her most notable traits is her belief that women can do anything that men can, and is willing to let any woman prove this. Many of the villagers describe her as "a woman who does not fear the gods and can kill them". She is also a humanitarian who wants to help all humans, and is willing to take the blame for any thing that might involve what she had done, even if not directly.

However, she is also a very ruthless person who is willing to kill to achieve her goals and conquer the forests. While she would never dare to harm a human, save for self defence, she holds a deep hatred for the animals, in particular the wolves, and has accused them of stealing San's soul. She is willing to resort to anything for the sake of iron town and the destruction of the forest to make room for new Iron Mines.

After the death of the Forest Spirit however, she seems to have moved on and has decided to try and live in peace with nature.

Relationships[]

Iron Town[]

The people of Iron town greatly admire Eboshi for her kindness and leadership skills. It is because of her that they all have jobs and can survive and thrive as a town. Due to Eboshi's equal-sex belief women are treated well, and in return many women admire her, undoubtedly. She is willing to let them take on personal vendettas against the wolves, and believes fully in their abilities, she is also willing to put her utmost faith in them no matter what.

San[]

While San carries a deep hatred for the humans, and has the most hatred towards Eboshi, she does not return these feelings. She is apparently under the assumption that the wolves stole her soul, and that it is because of this that she lives to kill her. It is interesting to note that San herself may be one of the biggest reasons while Eboshi wants to destroy the forest so that she can turn her back to a human. Ironically if she had actually succeeded than San would die due to being a part of the forest.

Moro[]

Eboshi and Moro despise each other fully and absolutely. While both are able to acknowledge each other as individuals and their strengths both hate each other blindly for an unclear incident that happened between the them. It is clear that Eboshi is personal in her vendetta towards the wolf spirit. During the climax of the film, Eboshi killed Moro, but in a final attempt at her life Moro's severed head struck, while failing to kill Eboshi, Moro still managed to take off an arm.

Past[]

Eboshi's history is vague, and has only ever been said a being tragic. What exactly happened was never covered, and only educated guesses and speculations can be made. However it is clear the animals are somehow involved, which would explain her hatred towards them. According to Hayao Miyazaki, Eboshi was a former slave girl who rebelled against her slavers.

Iron Town[]

During the failing times of Iron Town's founding it had little to its name, and was barely acknowledged do to lack of anything to claim for itself. It was then that Eboshi came and discovered the local iron stocks. After this Iron Town became known far and wide for its iron, and as a result Eboshi became the leader.

Shortly before the beginning of the movie Eboshi killed Nago for attempting to save the forest and stop the progress of the town.