I’m sure pretty much everyone has seen (probably about 20
times over) or is at least familiar with “The Lion King,” but for those of you
who have chosen not to crawl out of that rock you’ve been living under for the
past 20 years here’s the gist:
Simba, a lion prince is born a
destined to become king of his father’s lion pride. Simba’s father, the current
King at the time, Mufasa, has a jealous brother, Scar (I see Disney decided to
throw subtlety out the window on this one), who wants to be king. Scar gets
with some hyenas and plans to kill Mufasa and Simba so he can become King. Scar
kills Mufasa and blames Simba, who then runs away from all his problems and
life. Simba is told Scar sucks then comes back to take his pride. They fight,
scar dies, and finishing the “circle of Life” can officially be checked off the
to-do list.
One
lesson Disney movies are pretty consistent about teaching is the fact that
physical difference means either greatness or great evil. Now a movie given a
lot less credit than it deserves is “The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride.” Here’s
that movie in a nut shell—then I’ll get back to the point, I promise:
Simba has a daughter named Kiara.
Scar picks an heir named Kovu. They aren’t supposed to meet or interact, nevertheless
they do (big surprise). And on top of that, they fall in love, or as the movie
puts it “Upendi.” Kovu’s mother feels betrayed by her son for loving the enemy
and attacks him. Ironically enough this leaves him with a scar. Simba banishes
him because they are enemies. In the end it all turns out to be a big
misunderstanding and love brings all the lions together for a happy ending.
I’m
officially done digressing, and to those of you who already knew those stories you
are welcome for this opportunity to relive their greatness (because those tales
never ever get old). Now the purpose of my telling these was to show that both
times a scar symbolized an ability to stand out and be different, either for
better or for worse. In the first Lion King, not only Scar’s name, but the scar
on his face to match it, marked him with greatness. Wanting to kill your only brother
and his only son (therefore by default, your only nephew) is not just an
everyday desire. He had great potential for wickedness. On the flip side, in “The
Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride” a scar turns into a new symbol of greatness.
Originally Kovu is made to believe that the scar he had made him just like
Scar, and everyone in his life believed the same thing, very explicitly
described in the song “Not One of Us.” All of the animals in Pride Rock shame
him for not only being different, but being like a man known for great
wickedness. At this point Kovu determines the scar will be a reminder he will
never be like Scar, instead he will be a lion that bring great peace between
the prides and across the land.
