Simba The Lion King

The film “The Lion King” is a masterpiece by Disney Studios, embodying deep archetypal ideas. The film tells the story of young Simba, Harry, who embarks on a journey of maturation and learning to become king. Along the way, he encounters challenges, enemies, and friends, and learns important lessons about life. The film draws inspiration from myths and folk tales, and is a parable about the process that every person goes through on their way to becoming a mature and conscious being.

Harry as King – the meaning of the symbols

The choice of Harry as the king is not accidental. The lion is a predator that stands at the top of the food web, with a majestic and impressive appearance. In addition, its golden color is reminiscent of the sun. All of this makes him a natural choice for the role of the king in the parable. The king symbolizes conscience, the right way to behave, which they try to teach the cub. The king is also the divine father in a psychological sense, the figure that the offspring strives to imitate and please.

Sunrise and the Birth of the Hero

The sunrise at which the film opens symbolizes the rise of consciousness, the beginning of a new day and a new journey. In many stories, the sun is represented as a hero fighting darkness, like the sun god Horus. The sun is associated with consciousness because it illuminates and guides humans, creatures who are active during the day. The sunrise and the birth of the hero symbolize the beginning of a new cycle, of a new journey to development and enlightenment.

The importance of the center – the gathering of the animals

The animals gather around Fried Rock (the Rock of Pride), which is the center of the kingdom. This is the place where the king resides, the bright and safe place. Around the center is a bright area – the familiar and controlled area, and around it is the dark area – the unknown and dangerous. In many rituals and legends there is a motif of a journey to the center, to the heart of the sacred place, such as a mosque or temple. Reaching the center symbolizes spiritual development and ascension, reaching perfection and the unification of opposites.

The monkey Rafiki – the superconscious and ancient wisdom

The monkey Rafiki embodies the archetype of the wise old man, of the superconscious (self) in Jungianism. He embodies the accumulated wisdom of the generations, the eternal knowledge inherent in the collective subconscious. He sits in the sycamore tree (the tree of life), which symbolizes the axis connecting all levels of existence, from the microcosmic to the macrocosmic. Rafiki serves as a spiritual guide to Simba and Mufasa, and mediates the ancient wisdom to them. He is the one who succeeds in rehabilitating Simba later and returning him to the right path.

The revelation of the ruler to the people and its meaning

Mufasa introduces the baby Simba to the animal people, and they all kneel spontaneously. This is an instinctive recognition of the new ruler, but also a sign of his greatness and future glory. Similarly, people will stand and applaud in response to a masterful and breathtaking performance. They will recognize the greatness and unique power, and respond with excitement and admiration. It is a universal human response to something special and impressive, which embodies the human spirit at its best.

Scar and the Dark Side

Scar embodies the negative aspect, the shadow in Jungian terms. Every king and every person carries this dark side, which can develop into tyranny and destruction if not properly handled. Like Set in Egyptian mythology who envied his brother Osiris and plotted to overthrow him, Scar envies Mufasa and wants to take his place. He seduces the young and innocent Simba, exploiting his curiosity and thirst for adventure to get him into trouble. Similarly, the process of growing up is often accompanied by various dark temptations. Only recognition of them and conscious work will prevent them from taking over.

The Dual Nature of Woman – Nala

Nala represents the feminine archetype, the anima in Jungianism. On the one hand, she is the object of the hero’s love and admiration, but on the other hand, she is competitive and critical of him and challenges him. This is the dual nature of woman – she attracts the man but also makes him feel inferior and not good enough. This is why many men feel embarrassed and failed next to a desirable woman. But it is this process that pushes the man to improve and grow, in an effort to win the heart of the beloved. The anima is what leads the hero to strive to become the best version of himself.

The encounter with death and terror in the land of elephants

Nala and Simba are reincarnated during their struggle outside the borders of the kingdom, and find themselves in the elephant cemetery. There they encounter death for the first time, which strikes them with both terror and curiosity. Death is a hidden secret that always tempts us to explore it, despite the danger inherent in it. There they encounter hyenas, menacing creatures that feed on carrion and decaying bones. Hyenas play an important ecological role, but they still inspire a primal revulsion and fear in us, similar to crows and vultures that feed on carrion. They are creatures that remind us of death and human helplessness in the face of it.

The ongoing struggle of light and darkness

At this point, the king’s assistant Zazu tries to help the cubs, but he is helpless against the large and menacing hyenas. Zazu is like Horus, a falcon that serves as the king’s watchful eyes, seeing everything from a bird’s eye view. But still, Zazu is only a small creature in the face of the immense forces of nature. On the other side appears a volcano that symbolizes the underworld, the destructive power of fire. Fire is a constant threat to the tribes in Africa, and is therefore a natural parallel to hell. Here the constant contrast of light versus darkness, of life versus death, is presented, which reaches its peak in the book’s area between the illuminated kingdom and the dark land. This is a continuous and inevitable struggle, and only a delicate balance can allow the continuity of the circle.

The film “The Lion King” is a rich tapestry of archetypal symbols, embodying the wisdom of peoples and the eternal human journey. Through the story of Simba, we identify with the challenges and struggles of the process of maturation and development. Simba’s encounter with death, with the anima and with the shadow, are essential stages in his journey to become a true king. Ultimately, only recognition of all sides of the soul and reconciliation with them will allow the hero to reach perfection and take his rightful place in the great order of things. This is universal wisdom that is relevant to every person, in every era and in every culture.