Throughout Encanto, the film uses symbolism to connect Mirabel and Pedro, and it seems the connection may be more profound than viewers previously thought. Abuela Alma Madrigal (María Cecilia Botero) doesn't truly understand her family's magical gifts. Alma received the magic on the night her husband Pedro died, sacrificing his life to save his family and his village from intruders. Following Pedro's death, Alma got a magical candle, and her miracle grew into an enchanted house. From that day on, her family members received magical powers. For instance, her grandchild Luisa (Jessica Darrow) has superstrength, and Alma's daughter Pepa (Carolina Gaitán) can control the weather.
Unfortunately, Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz) is the only grandchild in the Family Madrigal who doesn't get magical powers. The film shows a flashback of Mirabel's gift ceremony, but the movie doesn't reveal why exactly Mirabel doesn't get powers. The lack of a magical gift puts a strain on Mirabel's relationship with Alma. After all, Alma is worried about losing the gift, thinking she'd let her family down as well as the entire village. However, Mirabel's lack of gifts is what gives her the determination to fix the problem when the family's magical Casita begins to crack.
In Encanto, Mirabel is possibly more deeply connected to Abuelo Pedro than expected. According to a fan theory (via Reddit), Mirabel is the reincarnation of Pedro. Time and time again, the film connects Mirabel to her grandfather. The idea notes that after Casita crumbles, Mirabel instinctively heads to the river where Abuelo Pedro died. And her Abuela Alma seemingly realizes that's where she'd find her, despite not being back to the river since Pedro's death. The Encanto theory about Mirabel also recalls how the pair have similar looks, which is evident when the film focuses on Pedro's portrait when the Casita cracks.
There's enough evidence to make a case for Mirabel being the reincarnation of Pedro. Beyond the ideas presented in the theory, Encanto associates Pedro with butterfly symbolism throughout the film. A butterfly appears when Alma first meets him, there are butterflies in his portrait in the house, and there are butterflies on the Madrigals' magical candle. The other character associated with butterflies in the film is Mirabel. There are butterflies on her dress, and she sees a butterfly at the river when Abuela confesses the true story of the miracle. Additionally, the English translation for the lyrics in "Dos Oruguitas," the song that plays as Abuela tells her story, mentions two caterpillars growing apart and returning. Therefore, it's possible the lyrics hint at Pedro's spirit returning through Mirabel.
Even if Mirabel isn't the literal reincarnation of Pedro, she embodies many of the same values as her grandfather. The pair both put others before themselves. Pedro gives up his life to save the Madrigals and the village. Mirabel similarly puts her family first, desperately trying to save them once she sees the Casita falling apart. For instance, Mirabel overhears when Abuela Alma talks to a picture of Pedro in a locket, asking for help with the cracking Casita. Mirabel puts the responsibility on herself, saying, "I will save the miracle." Reincarnation theories aside, at the very least, Mirabel is keeping the miracle and Abuelo Pedro's spirit alive in Encanto.