Shrek Analysis

Read this great character analysis written by Jessica in Year 6.

SHREK ANALYSIS

by Jessica

True love’s first kiss means nothing to a mind shattering, disgusting and self-centred ogre called Shrek. He follows the same routine and does not like to be disturbed, until one day Shrek meets an annoying and pleading Donkey. Shrek tries all he can to terrify Donkey but some how Donkey is not getting scared. This could be because Shrek and Donkey both are friendless. Donkey begs Shrek to stay, so Shrek finally lets him stay for one night only OUTSIDE! showing that Shrek is starting to possibly soften and feel some form of compassion. The music in this section of the movie is slow and quiet which represents that both Shrek and Donkey are lonely and have no friends.

Whilst Shrek was eating his disgusting food, fairytale creatures invaded his land. They were explaining to Shrek that Lord Farquaad had banished them all off his land and into Shrek’s swamp, Shrek was becoming furious. He asked all of the fairytale creatures if they knew where Lord Farquaad’s castle was but only Donkey knew. After Donkey had begged and pleaded, Shrek finally budged and let him come with to retain his swamp back. This is meaning that Shrek is starting to change and is slowly softening up. When Shrek and Donkey are leaving the music is starting to build up, which is a sign that a problem is about to occur.

On arriving in Ducloc Shrek and Donkey move through a large entrance and suddenly are in the middle of a tournament. Lord Farquaad wanted to become king, so he told all the knights that who ever won the tournament will rescue Princess Fiona and will be rewarded. After the mighty ogre and Donkey defeat Lord Farquaad’s favourites in the tournament, Farquaad agrees to move the fairy tale creatures off Shrek’s land if the latter will be his knight and bring Princess Fiona down from her distant tower to become his queen. Reluctantly, Shrek agrees, launching a journey that leads him and Donkey to a scary castle surrounded by lava-filled moat, guarded by a fire-breathing dragon and festooned with skeletons of every knight who had previously attempted to snatch Fiona from her seclusion. The two characters are thrust together on the journey when Shrek could possibly have gone alone. An adventure between 2 unlikely partners provides the director with a large canvas to portray their differences.

In the scene where Shrek and Donkey were in the sunflower field sunflowers open up which is a metaphor representing that Shrek and Donkey could be revealing there inner personality. Shrek revealed that:
“Ogres are like onions, they have layers and so do ogres.”
The meaning of this is that he may look ugly on the outside but if you slowly get to know him and peel back the seemingly distasteful pieces within, you will find that he is a very generous ogre.
But Donkey happily commented that:
“Ogres are like cakes, everybody likes cake!”
Shrek did not like that idea.
He boasted:
“Ogres are not like cakes, not everyone has to like them.”
Shrek’s words implying that people don’t always like him.

In the scene where Shrek and Donkey arrived at the princess’ dark and gloomy castle they both had surprised facial expressions. When they reached the bridge that was running over the hot swirling lava, Donkey was terrified. He bravely confessed to Shrek that he was afraid of heights. Shrek suggested that Donkey should not look down. But that suggestion did not work. To help Donkey cross the bridge, Shrek shook the rickety bridge because Donkey didn’t like the swaying, it distracted him from his fear of heights and that made it easier for Donkey to cross the bridge without being so scared. This was an indirect gesture of compassion from Shrek because he was trying to help Donkey overcome his fear of heights.

On finally reaching the castle, they decided to each go different ways. Donkey was going to try and find the princess, whilst Shrek was going to fight Dragon. Shrek again appears kind in his decision of giving Donkey the less dangerous option to find Princess Fiona. He is really starting to become much more generous. This plan did not work out the way they had envisaged. Shrek found the Princess, but Donkey found the dragon. The director chose an interesting tool of production; he made Dragons eye look humongous showing us that the dragon is a very large character. Shrek saw the dragon, grabbed Donkey and ran. Shrek grabbed onto Dragons tail to avoid Donkey being eaten by him. This action demonstrates Shrek cares about Donkey deep down. When Shrek finally arrives at the tower Fiona is not pleased with the way this knight acts and asks him:
“What kind of a Knight are you?”
Shrek replies:
“One of a kind!”
These words from Shrek implying that there is no one as distasteful as him out in the world, really putting himself down.
On the path of escaping the castle and Dragon Shrek yelled at Fiona to:
“Head to the exit”, whilst he intended to go and rescue Donkey from the dragon.”

These words from Shrek show that he cares and is starting to become more like a considerate ogre that has more of a friendlier personality. He could simply have grabbed Fiona and run out leaving Donkey to his fate instead.

Through the journey back to Farquaad’s castle, Fiona and Shrek were becoming close. The last night all three characters stay by a windmill. The director chose a very effective place for the characters to stay because a windmill is symbolic of a change in weather. When the winds of change blow and the windmill starts to spin, so too does this appear in the respective characters change of behaviour. Shrek makes dinner for Fiona and himself, the facial expression on the two characters are like
they are both falling in love. Shrek calmly asked Fiona:
“Maybe you could come and visit me in the swamp some time”.
Fiona answered “I would like that.”
These words are meaning that Shrek is falling in love with the princess. But suddenly when Donkey barges in and mentions sunset Fiona jumps and insists that it is late and she must go to sleep (these actions mean that there is a problem with Fiona when the sun is setting).

In the night Donkey accidentally finds out that a spell was cast on the princess when she was little. Fiona sadly whispers:
“When night one way, my day another until you find true love’s first kiss, you will find another.”
Whilst Donkey and princess Fiona are discussing this incident, Shrek over hears the conversation and misunderstands. In the morning Fiona decides to tell Shrek her secret, but it is too late, Shrek had already gone and told Lord Farquaad to come and fetch Fiona because of his anger.
Shrek is given his swamp back and Fiona is forced to marry Farquaad. Donkey goes back to the swamp and tells Shrek:
“Fiona was not talking about you!”
Shrek listens but then wants to know “Well then who was she talking about?”
Donkey won’t tell Shrek the reason instead tells him to go and find out him self. Donkey and Shrek ride to Farquaad’s castle on Dragon. When the couple are standing at the altar Shrek yells out:
“I object!!”
and the crowd all gasped at the sight of Shrek. Shrek tells Fiona
“I LOVE YOU!”
and surprisingly Fiona answers with the exact same words. Farquaad is not impressed at all with this. But it was too late. Dragon had eaten Lord Farquaad. Shrek and Fiona made true love’s first kiss.

Shrek had been through a rollercoaster of feelings and emotion throughout his journey. He went from being a friendless, loveless and stubborn character to the complete opposite. Donkey became his best friend, he found love and he became a happy little ogre. In all life can be very rewarding when we open ourselves up to the wonderful characters the world has on offer.


THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER!!!