When the movie first opens, we see Simba as a baby, however, I will not be covering this stage as we do not truly get a chance to watch him develop. Instead, we will be starting in the following portion of the movie when Simba is out of infancy and into childhood. This is the point where the audience really gets to see Simba interact with his environment, and by how he interacts, I would place him in the Industry versus Inferiority stage. The first indicator of this is Simba’s eagerness to learn about his future position as king of the Pride Lands. Mufasa gives him a tour of the kingdom, and they discuss what it takes to be a king and a king’s role in the circle of life. Simba is also seen practicing the task of pouncing, taking tips from Mufasa …show more content…
He seems to be enjoying a happy, simple and laidback life with Timon and Pumbaa. He is forming a new identity, separate from the royal line he had known in the herd. But when his friend Nala shows up, that all gets thrown into question. The question of who he is and who he should be is introduced, and we see him struggle with the pressure to find a balance between the two. The Identity versus Role confusions stage explains that this inner confliction is caused by both the external and internal expectations placed on him. The external expectations are coming from Nala, who believes that it is the right thing for him to help them take down Scar and take over the throne. They also come from Timon and Pumbaa, who believe he should remain with them where he is care-free and happy, living under the belief that the past is in the past and Simba needs to live for himself. Simba’s inner conflict comes from wanting to move on and be happy with his current life but also wanting to follow through on the values he was taught as a child: to help his …show more content…
The first sign of this stage is his new-found romantic attraction to his childhood friend: Nala. When we saw Simba in the Industry versus Inferiority stage, he was interested in her as a friend and comparison-peer. They both had negative feelings rounding the idea of them being betrothed to one another, but now things are starting to look different. Simba considers being intimate by opening up to her about his past, but he is conflicted because he fears that this knowledge will make her uninterested, leaving him alone and in isolation. He wants to have a relationship with Nala, but he has fears about how it will play out and if he is capable of love. This is a fear is known to many young adults during this phase, and it is one of the defining features of the