This page discusses Christian themes found throughout Disney's, The Lion King, as well as religious metaphors and representation.
ABOUT THE FILM
The Lion King was originally released in 1994 during a period referred to as "Disney Renaissance", a period that lasted for the entirety of the 1990s. This decade was Disney's return to producing critically acclaimed films that had not been achieved in decades. During this time other successful films were released by Walt Disney Pictures such as Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, and Aladdin, among others. However, none of the films reached the same level of success as The Lion King. With an initial worldwide gross of over $766 USD million the production earned the title of second-highest-grossing film of all time, and highest-grossing animation of all time. Since 1994 a sequel (The Lion King II) and a prequel (The Lion King 1 & 1/2) have been made including multiple spin-off TV series and children's books.
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RAFIKI
Rafiki is a metaphor for John the Baptist. John the Baptist was a wandering prophet and spiritual teacher. He is regarded as being the first to practice baptismal ceremonies as often seen today throughout the various denominations of Christianity. In the film, Rafiki cracks a branch and smears the sap across newborn Simba's forehead and climbs atop the precipice of Pride Rock with Simba in his hands to show the newborn king to the kingdom. Quite similarly to a priest holding up an infant child after having holy water poured on them as a ceremony to show the newly baptized child as a recipient to the Christian community. Simba was held up and accepted by the kingdom as a member of their society, and as their future king.
In Christianity, the Pope, and sometimes a minster, can be seen carrying a staff or scepter. The name for this staff is a holy crucifix and it is used for various ceremonies in Christianity. Throughout the film, Rafiki is seen carrying around a stick which he uses as a walking aid, but also during his rituals. Towards the end of the film during a battle with Scar, he used the stick as a weapon.
Similar to a wise priest, Rafiki reappears throughout the film to provide guidance for many different characters, offering them directing during times of internal conflict and self-discovery.
THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
"And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan.He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him." - Mark 1:11-13
Under the Christian doctrine of Trinity, God is one God, but three coeternal consubstantial persons, The Father, The Son (Jesus Christ), and The Holy Spirit. In this context, Mufasa is the Father, Simba is the Son, and Simba's vision when he sees his father's face in his own reflection at the pond with Rafiki, and then again in the clouds, is the Holy Spirit. One God in three divine persons.
After Simba and Nala's rescue from the Elephant Graveyard, Mufasa instructs Zazu to take Nala back to Pride Rock as he needed to teach Simba a lesson. During their conversation, Simba was trailing behind his father and then put his paw inside the much larger pawprint left behind by his father showing the unity between the two entities.
SCAR
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both the soul and body in hell." -Matthew 10:28
Scar is the main antagonist throughout the plot of the film. Scar can be directly related to the Pharaoh of Egypt. The Pharoah of Egypt was an evil biblical character, he feared the Hebrews were going to take over his country and he would lose control and power of his nation. So, he ordered all of the Hebrew boys to be executed. He then enslaved other Hebrews in Egypt to serve the upper class.
Scar was second in line to the thrown after Mufasa and after the birth of Simba he was third in line. Simba said to Scar "One day, I will be giving you orders, isn't that weird?", Scar felt threatened by Simba, knowing that he would outlive him and spoil his opportunity to be king. After he murdered Mufasa, and convinced Simba it was his fault, he told Simba "Leave and never come back" and banished him. Similar to the exodus of Hebrews from Egypt. Scar then assumed the thrown and enslaved the hyenas, as well the lionesses to serve him. Both Scar and the Pharoah of Exodus killed those who he felt threatened by and were corrupt leaders.
Scar can also be a metaphor for Satan. Satan is the main antagonist and enemy in the bible. Satan tricked and deceived people with temptation and lies. Scar lured Simba into the elephant graveyard by telling him everyone in the kingdom had been there, but he was too young to go. Simba has succumbed to the temptation and gave in and sought out the graveyard where he was ambushed by the hyenas.
"On reaching the place, he said to them "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."" - Luke 22:40
JOURNEY OF SELF DISCOVERY
“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” - Corinthians 3:16
Both Simba and Moses fled into the desert after being accused of murder. Simba was rescued by Timon and Pumba, similar to Jesus's rescue by Jethro. Both of them spent an extended period of time away from home before returning. Simba was learning about the Hakuna Matata way of life, Moses was learning about God.
The turning point in the journey of self-discovery was when Moses encountered the burning bush and allegedly heard the voice of God and spoke with him. Similarly, under the guidance of Rafiki Simba saw his father in the reflection of a pond and spoke with him as he saw him in the clouds, and reaffirmed to him that he is not leaving him. He will always be with him and always has, the same way God is always there to watch over Moses.
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"Remember who you are."
Mufasa
HELL
The elephant graveyard is a metaphor for hell. Hell is a dark and ominous place with skeletons of the deceased and souls of the evil. The hyenas are the souls of the evil that lurk within hell. Simba was tricked into going to the elephant graveyard by Scar, who has already been compared as analogous to Satan.
SOURCES
1) https://reelrundown.com/animation/The-Lion-King-Theory-Is-Simba-Jesus
2) https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/sociologyofreligion/tag/the-lion-king/
4) https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-48962315. Accessed 14 Feb 2020
5) https://disneylionking.weebly.com/scar.html
6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TavVZMewpY
8) https://www.cnet.com/news/lion-king-remake-is-the-9th-highest-grossing-film-ever/
9) https://www.bible.com/es-ES/bible/210/mat.6.25
10) The Lion King. Directed by Jon Favreau. Walt Disney Pictures & Fairview Entertainment.
