This past Friday, in the elementary school where I'm working, I had the opportunity to watch "The Lion King" because a class had earned it for their good behavior. I understand that this animated classic is for children, but as the plot developed, I thought that this movie is more for adults. I do not want to be misunderstood; "The Lion King" is a movie for all ages. This, perhaps, is Disney at its best.
Alfred Adler once said that children are "excellent observers but terrible interpreters," meaning that because kids have a brain that hasn't fully developed physiologically and experientially, they see events in their lives and form conclusions about the world that are false. We have all done it. (I am assuming that the majority of my readers is adult). I can remember making conclusions about who I am when I was seven, playing peewee soccer. The team I was on that year, the Yellow Team, had a losing record. Saying that we had a losing record makes it seem admirable; we lost most every game, except the last two. I played as much as I knew how as a second grader, but never saw my team acheive any success. Then, I caught the chicken pox and missed the last two games. I think from this event, I concluded that I was the weak link on the soccer team. Now, I don't remember specifically saying "I am the weak link," but I do remember thinking that they won because I wasn't there. Perhaps this wasn't the story, however, it was just how I interpreted it. Chicken pox was rampant in my school. Perhaps the other teams were short players and they didn't play to their potential. Perhaps my team won by forfeit. I just don't know what worked to make my team win, but I do know that my conclusion about myself was based upon interpretations that may not be accurate.
In "The Lion King," Simba believes a lie that he killed his father based upon his interpretations of his father's, the king's, death. Compounding his belief is his lying uncle Scar who launches a sly, wicked attack on Simba's character. Simba grows to believe that if he were not around, his father would not have died and that he deserves to be cast out from his pride. Simba chooses a self-imposed exile instead of taking his rightful spot on the thrown of the Pridelands. .
Eventually, Rafiki the Mandrill finds the estranged Simba and confronts him on his past, calling him out of hiding. He shows the full-grown lion that even if he has made some mistakes, as big as killing his father, he must learn from them and not be afraid. Rafiki also points Simba to his true identity as the new king, which Simba must embrace and bring redemption to his kingdom. Simba decides to rejoin his pride.
As he returns, he finds Scar ruling as king and destroying the land. Simba decides to take action and relieve Scar of his kingly duty. Scar, threatened by a loss of power, reminds Simba of his responsibility in his father's death in front of the whole pride. Simba, who believes he is responsible, confronts his past with bravery in front of his kinsmen. Scar and Simba fight, and it looks like Scar might kill Simba. Just as he is about to throw Simba off a cliff, Scar tells him that he, Scar himself, killed Simba's father; it was never Simba's fault. Simba, revived by the truth, leaps out of peril and mercifully tells Scar to leave and never come back.
I loved how this movie delved into the theme of identity. I wonder if, in our interpretations of life, we need to be reminded of the truth of who we are, if we need to confront our past, and if we need to learn from our mistakes a little more.
Time to fold laundry.
