Scar: The Villain Not Born But Made

             

         A while after watching Mufasa: The Lion King (2023), many have acquired a more profound understanding of Scar's character, causing social media users to voice him in a more sympathetic glow. Enlightened by this fresh viewpoint, I am revisiting Scar's journey and sharing my perspective.

    Taka the Scar, the iconic villain of The Lion King, is constantly portrayed as a power-hungry baddie. But the question that revolves around me for a quiet time is, what if Taka was not naturally vicious? What if his acts emanated from years of neglect, grudges, and a desperate need for acceptance? The very recent release, Mufasa: The Lion King, shines a limelight on Taka’s past, giving depth to the character who is not a villain but the result of the situations he was placed in.

    Taka's resentment is never born from only hatred but an in-depth sensibility of exclusion. In The Lion King, Mufasa is a favoured sibling, who is strong, dignified, and destined for superiority. However, the movie Mufasa revealed that the favoured sibling was adopted and Taka was criticized by Taka's father for taking an outsider in. Scar, besides, is outweighed, his skills neglected. The scar Taka bears on his face is itself a metaphor showcasing his emotional wounds, imposed by a society that values strength over intelligence. This discrepancy is deepened in the Mufasa prequel, where young Taka is depicted as ambitious but constantly disregarded. His longing for equality and respect shifts to resentment, growing the roots of his inevitable rebellion.

    The flux of Taka's relationship with Mufasa reveals a more serious hardship. The so-called "The Lion King" simplifies this flux into good versus evil, despite Mufasa presenting a more nuanced view of familial pressure and unmet prospects. Taka’s intelligence and funniness could have supported the Pride Lands; however, they are disregarded as arrogance. Just imagine being often compared to your sibling who is a complete package, but not you. Mufasa may personify perfect hero material, but his lack of knowledge about Taka's struggles contributed to his brother’s loneliness.

    Yes! This is how Taka became Scar. For me, Taka's journey is understandable. In my view, he is someone shaped by rejection and pain. It taught me the perils of neglecting those who feel unrecognised and undeserving. Possibly Taka did not need a throne but recognition, respect, and an opportunity to ascertain that he fit.

       In the end, we all choose what we like and who we love in the ignorance of the other side outcome. By the path of favouritism, the jeopardy of neglecting emotional wounds, and the consequences of reckoning someone by their distinctions, unknowingly we have been putting a scar on the faces of Takas living around us.

📸 credits: Google Images