The Lion King Hero's Journey

The hero's journey is a story outline that has been used throughout time to outline the basic and common steps that every hero takes in his or her epic journey. While commonly viewed as an ordinary Disney film, The Lion King tells the story of a maturing lion cub and emphasizes the Circle of Life. Every story with a hero follows most of the traits of the hero's journey, The Lion King perfectly exemplifies the qualities of a story of an epic hero.

In the Lion King, Simba's Ordinary World is the Pride Lands. This is where he was born and where he establishes his comfort zone. Here, Simba meets his childhood friend, Nala, and they explore the wonders of their home against Mufasa's will. At this young age, Simba assumes his family will always be together and safe from any danger, but his idealistic thoughts are soon disrupted when he explores too far out of his safety zone. Against Mufasa's orders, Simba gives in to his immature curiosity and goes to explore the lands. On his journey, he disturbs a herd of wildebeest who stampede him. Mufasa comes to the rescue, ultimately risking his life to save Simba and is killed when Scar refuses to lift him up to safety.

Simba receives his

Call to Adventure when Scar encourages him to run away from the Pride Lands. Scar told Simba that the only reason Mufasa is dead is because he was irresponsible and not ready to be king. Scar suggested that he run away before anyone in the Pride found out about the accident. This is Simba's chance to stand up for himself and remind Scar that he is the rightful heir to the throne and defend his, as well as his father’s, honor. Scar is quick to inform the kingdom of what has happened to Mufasa, and he does not forget to share the news that it was Simba’s fault.
Instead of challenging Scar, however, Simba Refuses the Call to Adventure when he runs away from the Pride Lands out of shame, and he accepts the blame for his father's death. He lives for many peaceful years in a jungle oasis with his new friends, Timon and Pumbaa, until Nala seeks Simba's help to restore the order in Pride Lands and save their family.
Simba learns from Nala that the Pride Lands are in ruin.

Scar is a rash leader and will stop at nothing to ensure he has the upper hand. Scar is greedy and vain and has taken the food and water of the Pride Lands for himself, killing off or causing most of the animal herds to flee. Nala tells Simba that Scar has taken his mother captive. Simba knows it is up to him to do something, but he is not sure that his family will understand his actions or accept him back into the family. Simba has a conversation with the ghost of his father, who gives him the final advice he needs to convince him to return home and rescue the people he loves. This is his supernatural aid because in real life, we do not seek advice from a projection of our deceased ancestors who offer advice on the hardships in our

life.
After talking to Mufasa's ghost, which acts as his Supernatural Aid, Simba now knows he must return home to the Pride Lands to rescue his people. He knows that he owes it to his father, as well as to the rest of his family and kingdom, to fulfill his rightful duty as their leader. He travels back home to his family.
Simba's Road of Trials and journey back home does not go as smoothly as he had expected. Many of Simba's people are upset with his reaction many years ago to the death of his father and believe that he betrayed them. Simba's retreat left them to suffer under the rule of Scar for years. Scar has brainwashed a number of Simba's once-loyal members of the Pride into believing Simba does not care about them. Upon his return, Simba assures his family that he never meant to hurt them and he is back to avenge their freedom. This isn't the only obstacle that Simba must persevere, however. Scar has established his own evil sidekicks, the hyenas, who will do everything in their power to keep Simba from reaching their leader Scar.
Simba approaches the Innermost Cave when he reaches Scar’s cave. Shocked to witness the return of the prodigal son, Scar laughs at Simba's demands that he leave. Scar knows that with his henchman and his age, he has the upper hand, that is, until the hyenas see how Scar is only out for himself. The hyenas turn against Scar and now want their revenge on him. Scar burns Simba with hot coals from a fire and starts the fight. As they battle, Simba seizes the higher ground, and defeats Scar by feeding him to a hungry pack of his once-trusted hyenas. After Simba has defeated Scar, he returns to the symbolic peak of Pride Rock, and looks over his people that he betrayed many years ago.
Once Simba takes back his crown, he conducts the Road Back. Under Simba's rule, the Pride Lands return to their utopian, lush society. The recently forlorn lands begin to prosper. The animals can obtain the food they need because Scar and the hyenas are no longer around to steal it all. In this scene, there are newborn animals, many of which are lions. This symbolizes the rebirth of their kingdom. The rightful king has returned, and he has brought with him a great promise of prosper.
After learning the undermining ways of Scar and understanding his previous departure, Simba is accepted back into his family and again as the rightful king of the Pride Lands. He endures his Resurrection when he learns and accepts his responsibilities as their Lion King. Simba is aware of the things he put his people through and he assures them that it will never happen again.
At the end of the story, Simba and Nala welcome a son, the new prince, into the world, and the reader witnesses how Simba has filled the footsteps of his father. Through his journey, Simba outlines the steps of maturity and what it is like to grow up. The story has displayed the Circle of Life by showing the growth whole generation from Simba's birth, to his son's. While exemplifying the steps of the hero’s journey, The Lion King embodies every step that Simba, and other heroes, must take in their lives and in order to seize what is rightfully theirs.