Understand the film's central motif: the contract with Yubaba, the stolen name, and the link between a name and the memory of who you are.
A name is the soul
How Chihiro became “Sen”
Lin brings Chihiro to the top floors — to the lavish chambers of Yubaba, the owner of the bathhouse. Yubaba is an old woman with a huge head, heaps of jewelry, and powerful magic. She frightens Chihiro and calls her weak and useless, but by an ancient law she can't refuse anyone who asks outright for a job. Chihiro stubbornly repeats, “Give me a job!” — and Yubaba gives in.
The key moment: by signing the contract, Chihiro gives Yubaba power over her NAME. The witch takes one of the two characters of her name (千尋) and leaves the first, 千, which is read “Sen.” Now the girl is called Sen.
This is more than a nickname. In the world of the film, whoever forgets their real name can't go home and stays in slavery to Yubaba forever. A name = the memory of yourself, of your past, of who you are. Haku secretly warns Sen: “Guard your real name. I've already forgotten mine.” This motif is the beating heart of the whole film.
Lesson notes
How Chihiro became “Sen”
Lin brings Chihiro to the top floors — to the lavish chambers of Yubaba, the owner of the bathhouse. Yubaba is an old woman with a huge head, heaps of jewelry, and powerful magic. She frightens Chihiro and calls her weak and useless, but by an ancient law she can't refuse anyone who asks outright for a job. Chihiro stubbornly repeats, “Give me a job!” — and Yubaba gives in.
The key moment: by signing the contract, Chihiro gives Yubaba power over her NAME. The witch takes one of the two characters of her name (千尋) and leaves the first, 千, which is read “Sen.” Now the girl is called Sen.
This is more than a nickname. In the world of the film, whoever forgets their real name can't go home and stays in slavery to Yubaba forever. A name = the memory of yourself, of your past, of who you are. Haku secretly warns Sen: “Guard your real name. I've already forgotten mine.” This motif is the beating heart of the whole film.