In Shrek the prince isn't charming, the princess isn't a damsel in distress, the sidekick isn't wanted, and the hero is an ogre. At times, our ideas of beauty and worth are driven by how we imagine life would be in a fairy-tale. Shrek, thankfully, turns those ideas upside down and shakes us awake from our traditional make-believe dreams.
Although Shrek seems a children's story at first glance, it features many moral messages. The most obvious moral of the story is to not judge others solely by appearances. The story of Shrek is a prime example of how our preconceived notions of beauty and what should be socially acceptable can cause alienation, harm, and are often utterly wrong. Even the seemingly ugliest or oddest people can be those that have the most beautiful character within.
A secondary message is the importance of companionship: Everybody needs friends and family to offer some form of comfort and support. At the beginning of the story, Shrek has already been ostracized and has withdrawn from the world, wanting nothing more than to be left alone. Through circumstances thrust upon him, Shrek learns to tear down the walls he has built around him and eventually cross the metaphorical bridge to beginning deeper, more fulfilling relationships.
Another issue Shrek tackles is one of self-acceptance. Princess Fiona is so concerned with appearances and being accepted that she does not even recognize her true spirit or inner-beauty. Starting off trying to impress her rescuer, Fiona acts like the princess she thinks she's supposed to be. She slowly begins to reveal her true colors, but as her journey continues, returns to the act of impression. Both Fiona and Shrek judge others, assuming they will be treated as others have treated them in the past.
While the lessons of self-acceptance, inner-beauty, true friendship, inclusion, and reserving judgment may not be new, they’re still important in today's image-conscious and isolated world. It’s refreshing to have such an entertaining reminder in our hectic lives. Well-written stories address both the cognitive and affective dimensions of human nature while managing to entertain. As an audience, we are able to project ourselves upon the characters and consider what kind of people we really want to be. This is our story, in many ways we are just like the characters in Shrek; enjoy it and make it the best you can.
