The Scar/Simba Dichotomy w/ a guest writer MyDearBrother

Hello, ladies, gentlemen and everyone in between. Today, standing in for your normal writers is MyDearBrother, and we will be discussing the characters of Scar and Simba. Perhaps I should say the character of Scar and Simba. Throughout the Lion King film, the two characters follow the same arcs and follow dark perversions of each other's story events.

Let's begin with what writers call the Old Order. In the beginning of most storylines, the main characters will be in some sort of emotional knot, called the Old Order, which they either solve throughout the movie, or through their attempts to solve it, fall to ruin. When examining Simba, we see a very slight, but very clear emotional knot. He looks up to his father, and feels inferior to him. He is just a child, but knows that he will one day be king, and does not feel that he can live up to the expectations and responsibilities set by the kingdom, and by his family. For example, Simba's first song in the movie is called "I Just Can't Wait to Be King", and shows that he does not quite understand all that monarchy entails. Whilst Zazuu tries to explain that he has a responsiblity to the people, Simba only sees the perks. He sings this while in the act of blatantly disobeying his father, and placing himself, and his betrothed, in grave danger, requiring Mufasa's help. Mufasa makes Simba feel inferior by explaining that the King has a duty to uphold the Circle of Life, and to help and protect his citizens, and he can not do this if he places himself in any danger, or is irresponsible. Simba feels that he can not possibly know or do all that his father does.

Scar's Old Order is quite similar, but much darker. He too feels inferior to the great King Mufasa, but in a different manner. Scar, being also a Prince, was next in line for the throne until the birth of Simba. As explained in their first conversation, Scar was always weaker, and always the black sheep of the family, with the stronger, but less intelligent Mufasa being the favorite in the family. He also describes, in "Be Prepared", about his desire to be the monarch, illustrating how he wishes to break out of the Old Order.

The two songs are extremely similar in the way they are shot. Both characters begin their songs conversing with characters that they consider inferior, Simba speaks to Zazuu about how much his life will improve upon his coronation (or whatever lions do), whilst Scar illustrates his planned coup to the hyenas. Both characters then pounce on their inferior partners, and proceed to mock and physically abuse them, whilst singing about their plans come kinghood. With the tortured sidekicks voicing their thoughts and opinions throughout, the Princes rally all the nearby animals into joyous song about their intended reign, with Simba singing triumphantly (but vaguely) with happy go lucky wildlife about his "finest fling", and Scar giving a specific and direct plan to a horde of goose stepping hyenas.

Both characters have sidekicks that represent aspects of their personality. Scar has the hyenas, one of which is quite intelligent, one of which is sarcastic and comic, and one of which is frikkin' crazy. These three characters are constantly together, and yet seem to hate each other. The comic one (Banzai) and the intelligent one (Shenzi) both fight and scuffle constantly, while they both mock the crazy one (Ed) throughout. These three serve to show us what is going on inside Scar's head. We know that he is sarcastic, and cruel, believing himself to be above all others, however we also know he is psychotic, willing to murder and subjugate, demonstrated by his murder of Mufasa and subsequent rule.

Timon and Pumbaa similarly represent Simba's inner conflict. Pumbaa acts as Simba's inner conscience. He is a caring individual, and a loyal friend, and throughout the prince's life serves as a counsel for Simba. This is demonstrated when he immediately decides to help Simba reclaim his throne in the Lion King 1 1/2, whereas Timon is less willing. Due to Simba's emotional trauma, he has developed an inner voice, that tells him to be cynical. This voice tries to keep him away from his duties and responsibities. This voice is represented in the physical world by Timon, who stands in direct conflict to the physical embodiment of Simba's loyalty to his birthplace, and responsibilities as Prince: Nala.

Both Simba and Scar make the decision that the current sitter on the Stoney Throne must be overthrown (lol -Emma), and murder the old king with the help of their sidekicks. Scar does this by driving a herd of wildebeest through a canyon, and throwing Mufasa into the moving herd, representing the fact that Mufasa's death was a result of a force that he could not control. In a similar fashion, Simba fights with Scar, and throws him into a group of his disgruntled allies, who tear him to pieces, to symbolize the fact that Scar's downfall was his own doing.

Simba exists as the protagonist for one reason, and that reason is so that we may better understand Scar, whose story this is. We first see Scar, who is confident, and quite cruel in his murder of Mufasa, but the symbolism suggests he is constantly questioning himself by having his sarcastic side fight it out with his intelligence. In the opinion of this humble writer, Simba is meant as an examination of Scar's intentions. He is merely how Scar sees himself. To us, the usurper King is a murderer, whose cronies are starving outcasts, and who deign to kill a king merely because he desires to be king. In Scar's head, all his moves are justified. He sees Mufasa as an opressor, he sees his friends as loyal allies, and he sees the murder as a step forward into justice, as shown when he promises not power to his allies, but food. Simba's tale is not the heroic rise of a king, but the tragic fall of a regicidal prince.

#mydearbrother #lionking