ANALYSIS OF SHREK’S CHARACTERIZATION
In the movie Shrek released in 2001, the ogre Shrek is portrayed as an eponymous conqueror. He likes a solitary life in a peaceful swamp where ha later makes friendship with Donkey. Unlike most ogres, Shrek presents himself as friendly, even though his background is full of mystery. He expresses his sentiments on how others judge him as hostile at first sight compelling him to prefer living a solitary life. He also reveals that he had a father who once attempted to eat him (Isnawati, eta al., 61). The ogre lives in a murky green swamp having its house and an outhouse. The fact that he uses slugs as toothpaste is something that makes one begin doubting his claims of being harmless.
Another subtle revelation of Shrek’s real character is the comparison of his attributes with onions. It reveals the contrast between the outside and the inside. His inappropriate sense of humor and pride in his agility and strength also shows his innate behavior, which he tries to hide(Crandall, 12). Further, his real character is of gifted hypocrisy, which he can use to his advantage. For instance, he uses his scary appearance to scare other beings from the muddy swamp to enjoy the dirty showers and slug delicacies alone. It reveals his greedy and selfish character. The character crafted by William Steig gave him a Scottish accent. The name which is from Schrek in German meaning ‘terror’ seems to reflect the real personality of the ogre. Earlier sketches of Shrek however, (1996-1997) portrayed him inhabiting a garbage site near a personal residence called Wart Creek (Isnawati eta al., 61). In those earlier works at one time, Shrek stayed with his parents and kept rotten eggs in his bedroom, which conforms with his later habitat in a murky swamp.
Other aspects of Shrek’s character traits show when he is requested by Lord Farquaad to liberate Princess Fiona and in return to get the title of the swamp, which he can then use to evict squatters. He is suitable for this mission because of his high physical strength and ability to get in combat with humans and win most of the time. Fiona was l a castle guarded by a dragon that breathed fire. In the rock castle, she lived in one of the highest rooms at the top of the tallest tower. eShe hoped that her true love would come and marry her. After her rescue, he falls in love with Princess Fiona then realizes that she is also an ogre and sings romantic Songs for her like ‘’what I like about you’ by The Romantics (Evely, 68). His social problem causes the feeling that other beings think he is mean and ugly despite the view that he is human-like except for a few cosmetic exceptions.
In Shrek the Third, he turns out to be a highly-liked superstar, especially in Far Far Away. It happens because people discover that he is not hostile in the fourth movie. Due to his celebrity status, people start visiting him more than before, and this bothers him, but later, he can accept his new situation and appreciate his life better as a real hero. The fairy tale is likely to be enjoyed by children and adults alike. The designers of the movie start with a fun carton basis before incorporating additional techniques to make it appealing to adults (Crandall, 12). Although Shrek lacks a sexual component, there is a section where Fiona sings with a bird in a nest with the bird swelling whenever she reached a high note.
The use of proper characterization, along with other techniques, makes the tale resonate more with adults as well as children. Since the ogre, Shrek likes himself despite the feelings of other beings; he is self-confident. His other attributes are wit and courage since he makes other people think of him as mean than he is by scaring them away. Although he longs for a companion, he has the emotional strength to survive alone and pushes other beings away before they can express their rejection for him. He also demonstrates his courage and romantic attributes by rescuing Fiona through a dangerous mission and expresses his romantic feelings for her afterward in an emotional manner. These and other techniques make the tale to appeal to a broader audience.