Pandora Hearts, a twenty-four volume graphic novel, is the story of a young boy called Oz who is dropped into a hell-like plane for a reason he is unsure of. The story follows him as he tries to uncover the truth and why the events of a hundred years ago seem to be linked. Due to the length of the series, I wanted to focus on a smaller area of the plot, transposing the important events that happen a hundred years before the series’ beginning to a stage production. This will allow the story to be more accessible to those who are already fans of the source material and those who would be coming at it with no prior knowledge.

 

While the visuals of Pandora Hearts can be quite whimsical, the main themes deal with grief, loneliness and sacrifice. Jack, the protagonist of the tale, embodies these ideas. His grief is what causes him to make the decisions he does, ultimately causing ruin for many. Underlying these darker themes however, is a sense of hope and love. Lacie knows what she must sacrifice, causing her to feel a deep disconnect from those around her, yet she still loves the world and inspires hope within Jack. The characters within Pandora Hearts are flawed and the story really plays into the concept that no one is wholly good or bad, that there are just different peoples wishes and beliefs.

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