The Lion King: A story of real masculinity and real femininity

This article was originally published on September 27, 2017.

In our present day, it is important that young men and women be more confident in themselves. Now more than ever, we need to live the way we're supposed to be living—active and meaningful ones to the fullest.

And since St. Valentine's Day is here, I think now is a good time to talk about real masculinity and real femininity.

An example of this real masculinity portrayed in film is Simba from "The Lion King (1994)." Now, Disney and director Jon Favreau are already producing a new live-action remake of “The Lion King,” which will be released next year. I think they run the risk of ruining the original “Lion King” in the way they portray Simba.

In today’s society, men are often portrayed as timid weaklings or elitist barbarians who abuse women and other men. We see this in film and television. Too often, Hollywood says the best example of a man is to be an idiot who never strong enough to be himself (especially when it comes to women) and take action (especially when he’s facing combat and must fight for himself)

This needs to stop.

Young men and women need strong characters who embody the characteristics and ideals us Catholics associate with real masculinity and real femininity—qualities such as strength, confidence, and the will to better ourselves in order to grow as a person.

The original “Lion King” is one of my favorite films. But how I look at it now is different then when I was a kid growing up. At first I saw “The Lion King” as an adventure story: a young cub named Simba grows up wanting to be king and must fight in order to reclaim it. As a cub, he just wants to have fun, but then as he grows up and gets older into a young adult, he matures into the king we all know him to be—the real lion he is.

Through my time at Benedictine College and with my friends I met there, I learned to “see” the elements that go into filmmaking and creating a good story, not just “watching” a film. Basically taking the entire film and characters into consideration and really think about them and “Why” this is happening in the film.

I have a better understanding about the message of “The Lion King,” one that is important for young men and women today.

“The Lion King” isn’t just a family adventure film; it’s a young man’s journey—or in this case, a young lion’s—to become his true self with confidence and courage.

Once Simba found that strength inside him to return home, he was able to overcome his fear and be bold, showing that passionate zeal that makes him a lion and the king Nala knows he is. More on that later.

Simba experiences great changes in his life as he grows up. From a highly confident cub, he becomes a stronger and more mature young adult, having the strong character of a good man and showing that he is real.

Believing that he was responsible for his father's death, Simba ran away from home instead of facing his fears. But with a little help and a hard hit on the head, Simba now has the strength and courage to not let his past control him or decide his future, his destiny. He therefore is able to defeat his evil uncle Scar and take his rightful place as King of Pride Rock. That is why Simba is a good feature film character young men can relate to. I know I myself have been in Simba's place on more than one occasion, and I work hard to persevere and keep going – to be real and to be a good man.

Another character trait I like about Simba as a person is his relationship with Nala, his future wife. There’s a reason people tell you that when you get married you’re marrying your best friend (because that’s how you should treat your spouse), and that’s true in Simba’s case. He and Nala were best friends growing up, and their friendship grew as they get older and Simba matured on his hero’s journey. At first Simba just wants to have fun with Nala, but soon he changes. We see this even before they are reunited as young adults. Simba risks his life to save Nala from the hyenas and even rushes in to protect her, after he puts them in harm’s way. He goes back for her. Later, Nala tells him that she thinks he was brave. Once Simba sees Nala again when they’re young adults, his feelings for her start to become true love. They have their good and bad moments, along with their strengths and weaknesses, but they still love each other. They complement each other.

Simba has that will and potential to be a great leader, and Nala sees that in him. She also gives him a reason to fight, just as she did all those years ago. She pushes him to step up into his role as the rightful king and supports him.

Nala knows Simba is a good lion and that he is real. She’s already strong and brave, and Simba reaches that point in his life where he acts like a man when he decides to return to Pride Rock. He becomes that person he’s supposed to be.

She gives him a reason to fight, just as she did all those years ago when he saved her from the hyenas. She pushes him to step up into his role as the rightful king and puts herself under his mission (to fight back and reclaim his homeland), which is the real message St. Paul writes about in Ephesians 5 about men and women in the Church. Nala knows Simba is a good lion and that he is real, even though he doesn't believe it at first. Yet he comes around though and sees himself for who he really is. He is real and she is real.

At the end of the movie, we see what good things happen when a young man steps up as a man and pushes on, moving forward in his life with strength and confidence. Simba has confidence in himself and who he is up for himself into the man he knows he is and lives his life everyday, every step of the way as he continues on his journey and follows his God-given mission and task.

Nala gave Simba that confidence he needs to be strong, and after some life lessons from Rafiki, just as Yoda had trained Luke Skywalker in “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), he confidently decides to go back home and stop Scar. He chooses to take action and stop running away from his fear and past mistakes.  

Our own journey in life is like Simba’s journey, each with our own destination. We see at the end of the film that good things happen when a young man steps up as a man and continues to work hard, pushing himself harder. Simba overcame his doubt in order to defeat Scar and he became a better lion because of it. We can’t let our past failures prevent us from being better men and women and move forward, always forward, in our lives.

As one crazy monkey says, "The past can hurt. But in my experience, you can either run from it or learn from it.”

The Lion King is more than just an adventure film; it's a reflection about our lives and where we're going. Like Simba, we grow into that person we're meant to be. We're faced with challenges and decisions that define us, and how we act during those times makes us who we are.

Simba has the characteristics we should be striving for as men. He's one example of characters who show real masculinity and aren't afraid to show it every day of his life going forward. And Nala is a great example of strong female characters in films that women can be proud of. The two young

There are plenty of real life men and women who, like Simba and Nala, rise to the occasion. St. Joseph answered God's call to be Mary's husband and protect Jesus. And St. Valentine married many Christian couples in a time when the Romans persecuted them. St. Joan of Arc, barely into her young adult life, answered God’s call rallied the French people against their English oppressors.

As young men, we all are called to stand up for ourselves and be men. Not barbarians or wimps, but somewhere in the middle. That's where real masculinity thrives.

Young women are also called to be real women. They aren’t afraid to practice real femininity in their own lives and reject Hollywood’s objectification of women.

We aren't perfect. No one is. The good news is we don't have to be.

Just be ourselves, our true selves, and not be intimidated because something is hard and is a big risk. That's when we gather our courage and be more confident in ourselves.   We carry ourselves with confidence and face our fears head-on, holding nothing back.

Simba became truly alive when he took responsibility and freely chose to go back home and save his family, making things right.

Nala never gave up hope that the Pride Lands would be saved from Scar’s tyranny and that Simba would save them.

Catholic young men and women, those of us who live our faith and do our best to be great men and women, should not doubt themselves or their abilities.

It is not a coincidence that we are here today and that this St. Valentine’s Day is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent.

Each one of us must answer that call to be better men and women. We continue striving to be ourselves and unafraid.

Let’s reflect on that message this St. Valentine’s Day and not waste another moment.