Blog 1: The Lion Thing

Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton collectively wrote the script of The Lion King and in the year of 1994, Walt Disney Pictures released to theaters The Lion King, “the sixth highest grossing animated film in history.” Though there is sufficient evidence in the film industry as to why movie remakes just shouldn’t be done- due to both failing to match the standards of the first film or in its failure to accumulate desired funds- The Lion King has definitely flourished in the realm of film. In addition to creating two sequels to the movie, Disney has gone on to retell the compelling original to younger viewers via newer products such as: read along story books, cd’s, dvd’s, and Blue-Ray discs. And let us not forget what an entertaining, success The Lion King musical became to the world in 1997. In today’s time it is Broadway’s seventh longest-running show in history.” Still, the Disney hit doesn’t end there; The Lion King heads to theatres for the first time in 3D on September 16, 2011.
By the age of seven I had already seen The Lion King more than one-hundred times. I was fascinated by the visual display and I loved that each time I sat down to watch the movie, heightened emotions vanished miraculously, leaving me feeling soothed, when confronted with the story’s happy ending. However, growing older, I’ve fallen captive to how thought provoking The Lion King really is. It is the plot that is centered around the dualistic conflict between realism and idealism that intrigues me most.

Simba symbolizes idealism insofar as he holds firm to the view that the mind constructs reality and the self is constructed of freedom. Deceived into believing he murdered his father, a guilt-ridden Simba ostracizes himself to avoid fulfilling his role as future king. In one scene in the film, Simba flees the Pridelands in an attempt to liberate the spirit and embark on a journey in which he evolves a new being. After fleeing into the jungle, intent on exploring the idealistic views of reality, he adopts the “problem- free philosophy” of “Hakuna Matata”-meaning no worries. Simba believes he has acquired freedom since adopting this philosophy in itself is a demonstration, to Simba, that he holds responsibility to act as he chooses and is not obligated to act by forces beyond his“conscious control.” Seeing that the ability to believe in this philosophy is a result of a free and responsible action, Simba decides that the adoption of “Hakuna Matata” is in fact an extension of his desire to pursue freedom and exercise his idea of free will. He decides that it is in fact an extension of his ability to create an ideal life. Thus, through “Hakuna Matata,” embracing idealism, Simba puts himself in a position of authority over his own future and is able to suppress his past and live a happy, carefree life.

Nala, Simba’s childhood friend, represents realism inasmuch as she believes the self exists as a determined entity. To protect the welfare of the village from the malicious Scar, Nala attempts to persuade Simba to return to his rapidly deteriorating homeland. “Hakuna Matata…Sometimes bad things happen…so why worry?,” Simba asked. “Because it’s your responsibility!” Nala said in irritation. As an individual whose self has already been determined to take a course in life, Nala believes Simba is not granted the faculty of choice or decision in the matter but should instead fulfill the demands the external world has planned for him. As a believer of the view of realism and the view of a determined entity, Nala believes that Simba has a moral obligation he is“inevitably and necessarily” destined to fulfill.
After encountering his father’s spirit, Simba endures a difficult process of self-examination insofar that he makes the ultimate sacrifice: the sacrifice of freewill. In the final scenes of the film, Simba finds himself in a state of conflict and confusion. Though very amused with the liberating life his “Hakuna Matata” philosophy has brought him, he cannot help but question the meaning and intrinsic value of life and for that matter the purpose of his self. Who is he meant to be? - The person he has become? Or the person he used to be? In the midst of his confusion, Simba, reflecting on the meaning of his existence and experiences, knows what he must do. He must accept his rightful place as king and return to the past that he has been running from, thus, he must surrender his freedom which is to surrender self and submit into the being others want him to become.

More than a gripping tale that conveys grief, desperation, and longing, the Lion King is a tale of Simba, a lion who makes a strenuous decision between idealism- a world wherein he determines reality, and realism- a world wherein reality is determined for him. Initially, Simba believed the act of fleeing the Pridelands to adopt the philosophy of “Hakuna Matata” was freely chosen. He in fact believed in a self capable of possessing freedom and choice only to discover realism in a reality wherein cause and effect determine the self and the external world dictates the life in which one lives. Simba consequently returned to the past he vowed never to return to, taking his rightful place as king. The idea of freedom and freewill became no more than illusions- two concepts the mind perceives as “real” yet they are not. Simba believed he was in control of his own future but on the contrary, every thought, decision, and action committed by this individual was made possible due to the external world.

I can definitely say that since the age of seven, my experience of the story has changed in many ways.