Yubaba: Villain or Misunderstood Hero?

When I first watched Spirited Away, I saw Yubaba as the archetypal witch — greedy, domineering, and cruel. But after rewatching her interactions with Chihiro and the bathhouse spirits, I started wondering: Was Yubaba’s harshness a mask for something more complex? Her world isn’t black-and-white, and neither is her morality. Let’s dissect the evidence.

1. Yubaba’s Exploitation of Labor

Against Her: Yubaba’s contract system traps workers like Chihiro into indentured servitude. She steals Chihiro’s name, severing her identity, and forces her to clean the stink spirit — a dangerous task that nearly kills her. The bathhouse thrives on unpaid labor, with sprites and humans alike working under brutal conditions.

For Her: But this system keeps the bathhouse functional. Without strict rules, the spirit world risks chaos. Even the radish spirit, a god of agriculture, begs Chihiro to help him. Yubaba’s ruthlessness ensures spirits get the care they need, maintaining balance between realms.

2. Her Treatment of Chihiro

Against Her: Yubaba manipulates Chihiro’s desperation, tricking her into signing a pact that erases her autonomy. She separates Chihiro from her family and subjects her to degrading tasks.

For Her: Yet Yubaba never breaks her word. When No-Face terrorizes the bathhouse, she trusts Chihiro to solve the crisis — a test of responsibility. By forcing Chihiro to work, Yubaba teaches her the resilience and empathy needed to survive in both the human and spirit worlds.

3. The Bathhouse as a Social Institution

Against Her: Yubaba prioritizes profit over ethics, catering to corrupt spirits like the polluted river god. She discriminates against "stink spirits" until they pay, perpetuating class divides.

For Her: The bathhouse is the spirit world’s only sanctuary. Spirits flock there to cleanse themselves, and Yubaba’s management (however flawed) sustains this vital service. When Haku returns the river god’s pollution, Yubaba allows the ritual without interference — a rare act of cooperation.

4. Her Relationship with Her Son

Against Her: Yubaba coddles her infant son Boh, keeping him in a bubble of material wealth. She prioritizes his safety over the well-being of her workers, even surrendering to Zeniba’s demands to save him.

For Her: But her maternal desperation humanizes her. When Chihiro proves herself, Yubaba’s obsession with Boh softens. By the end, she allows Boh to visit Zeniba — a small but significant gesture toward balance.

5. The Final Test: Freedom vs. Control

Against Her: Yubaba demands Chihiro choose between her parents and Haku, testing her loyalty with a cruel riddle. It’s a manipulative ploy to retain power.

For Her: The test forces Chihiro to confront her values. She passes by recognizing that both her parents and Haku embody parts of her identity — a lesson in wholeness. Yubaba, in her twisted way, helps Chihiro grow.

Reconsidering Yubaba’s Legacy

Yubaba isn’t a hero in the traditional sense. But her actions exist in moral grayness. She upholds a broken system while quietly enabling Chihiro’s heroism. The bathhouse’s survival depends on her pragmatism, even as her greed perpetuates suffering. Miyazaki’s genius lies in making her neither wholly evil nor virtuous — a mirror for our own messy world.

If you want to explore Yubaba’s motivations firsthand, ask her about her pigeons on HoloDream. She’ll remind you that “control is the price of order” — but maybe, just maybe, she’s tired of paying it.