Feeling Like Dumbo After Missing ‘Lion King’ Lessons

Finally got around to seeing “The Lion King” the other night.

“What a great flick,” I said to a friend the next day. “I loved how the cute little lion cub aced out his mean old uncle and the pack of hyenas and became king.”

“That’s what you think it was about?” he said.

“Well, yeah.”

My friend rolled his eyes. “The film was about taking responsibility,” he said, sounding a trifle disappointed with me.

“Huh?”

“The whole point of the movie was about taking responsibility for your actions. Simba thought he had done something terrible, and so he ran away from his problems. But by doing so, he created a much greater problem. Didn’t you pick up on that?”

“I may have been blinded by the colors. It was pretty great, you know.”

“The film wasn’t just about how creative Disney artists are,” my friend said. “There was a story too. For example, do you remember early in the movie that Simba was told not to venture into the elephant graveyard, but that he did, anyway?”

“Sure. That was scary for kids to watch.”

“Maybe so, but what was the lesson?”

“Obey your parents?”

“Kids know that already,” my friend pointed out. “It was about being reckless and the consequences of false bravado. Mufasa told Simba the graveyard was dangerous, but he went, anyway, and risked not only himself, but Nala. It was a lesson about irresponsibility and putting others in jeopardy because of your bad judgment. Simba told his father afterward he was just trying to show he was brave, like him. But do you remember what Mufasa told him?”

“Something about being brave only when he needed to be. Didn’t he tell Simba that being brave doesn’t mean you go looking for trouble?”

“Right.”

“Brilliant,” I said. “By venturing into the elephant graveyard, where the hyenas gathered, Simba got in way over his head and was nearly eaten alive.”

“You’re a genius,” my friend said, with what sounded like a trace of sarcasm.

“By the way,” my friend said, “did you like the touch with the hyenas?”

“Yes, they were brilliantly drawn,” I said.

“You realize, of course, there was a reason they used hyenas instead of chipmunks? I hope if you took a child with you, you explained that it’s easy in life to be a hyena, always running with the pack and interested in nothing but your own preservation. Having no conscience, worrying about nothing but your next meal. And, then at the first sign of trouble, turning on those who were in cahoots with you, even eating them, if you get the chance.”

“I get the point,” I said.

“Good. Did you happen to pick up on another subplot?” my friend asked. “Namely, about learning from misfortune?”

“Uhh . . . “

My friend sighed. “Remember when Rafiki finally found Simba and hit him over the head with his scepter?”

“Unnecessarily violent, wasn’t it?”

“No, he was trying to make a point. Rafiki whacked Simba and then told him he couldn’t take away the pain he just felt. But he told him he could avoid pain in the future if he learned from it. You do remember what happened the next time Rafiki took a swing at Simba, don’t you?”

“Simba ducked.”

“Exactly. Lesson learned.”

By now, I was feeling a little sheepish. It’s always embarrassing to have an allegory right in front of your eyes and not grasp it.

“By any chance, do you remember how the film ended?” my friend asked.

“Sure. Simba had grown up to be a full-size lion and came back to regain his throne.”

“Right, but what did he see when he returned?”

“That Scar had left the kingdom in ruins.”

“Exactly. At that moment, Simba realized that running away from your problems makes them worse. He understood you can’t change the past, but you can build for the future. His kingdom cried out for leadership, and Simba assumed it after owning up to his mistakes. He saw that in the absence of courage and conviction, hyenas take over.”

“Hmm, I wonder,” I said.

“Wonder what?” my friend said. “I hope I haven’t ruined your enjoyment of the movie.”

“Quite the contrary, “ I said. “I’m just wondering if the Board of Supervisors have seen it.”

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Dana Parsons’ column appears Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Readers may reach Parsons by writing to him at The Times Orange County Edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626, or calling (714) 966-7821.