Shrek Archetype

Shrek Archetype

by: Demi Rogers

Conclusion

The filmmakers did a good job following a hero's journey. They did not follow all the steps to Campbell's Twelve Steps to a Hero but there were a few steps that could be added that aren't in Campbell's Twelve Steps to a Hero. Each character fits an archetype pretty well. At times there were a few characters that could fit into a couple archetypes. The movie is stronger because of their great use of following the Hero's journey and using archetypes. Shrek is a very relatable character because of his archetype. Shrek doubts himself, but shows only strength to everyone who crosses his path. Donkey is also very relatable. He is very insecure because he feels all alone without friends, loves to joke around to show he doesn't care, and have fun no matter what the situation is. Fiona is a character that can match a lot of girls. She dreams for her fairytale prince, wedding, and happily ever after. The filmmakers were very successful at making each character easy to relate to making this a great movie.

XII. Return with

the Elixir

• On his way back home, Shrek realizes he made a mistake and he wants Fiona back
• Shrek must interrupt the wedding and face Lord Farquaad and his soldiers again
• Shrek gets so close to getting Fiona when Farquaad's men grab the both of them
• Then Donkey and Dragon come crashing through the windows and rescue Fiona and Shrek

IX. Reward

• Shrek gives Fiona to Lord Farquaad after he overhears her talking about him to Donkey
• In return, like he promised, Farquaad gave Shrek his home back

VII. Internal Battle

• Shrek faces Donkey and finally admits that he feels lonely and that no one likes an Ogre, when they're only judging the outside
• Shrek's starts falling in love with Fiona, when she's suppose to be marrying Lord Farquaad

VI. Tests, Allies,

Enemies

• Shrek meets Donkey while, Donkey, was trying to escape, Farquaad's, men.
• The two, Shrek and Donkey, become great friends by the end of the movie
• Although Shrek is suppose to be saving Fiona, the two, start to fall in love with each other the more time they spend together

V. Crossing the First

Threshold

• On his way to rescue Fiona, Shrek crosses a bridge, surrounded by lava.
• To get Fiona out of the castle a dragon has to be slayed/distracted.

II. The Call to

Adventure

• Lord Farquaad wants a wife, so he can remain king.
• Farquaad needs someone to go get Fiona from he castle, to bring back to him
• Shrek walks in the middle of a showdown and defeats everyone
• Farquaad saw how strong he was and tells Shrek, if he rescues Fiona then he will give him his swamp back

I. The Ordinary World

• Shrek lives on a swamp, alone, with no one to bother him.
• Soon his home is invaded by all the fairytale creatures.
• He wants his privacy back, so he has to travel to Duloc, to get Lord Farquaad to give him his swamp back

Hero's

Journey

Dragon

Archetype: Athena

Examples of archetype:

Examples from the movie:

• She is always paranoid that someone is trying to save Fiona
• She has been on her own as long as Fiona has been on her own, in the castle
• is trapped in the castle because she has chains attached to her

• prefers male friendship
• is self-reliant
• very smart and intellectual
• confident and self-assured
• workaholic
• feels trapped
• paranoid that others are plotting against her

Princess

Fiona

Archetype: Isis

Examples of Archetype:

• cares more for others than herself
• has a healthy sense of who she is
• renounces material possessions
• lives in tune with nature
• a good listener

Donkey

Examples from movie:

• Sings while walking through the forest and sings to blue birds who sing back to her
• She made Shrek and Donkey breakfast to have a fresh new start
• She was stuck in a castle her whole life with nothing but the clothes on her back

Archetype: Hermes

Examples of Archetype:

Antagonist

Examples from Movie:

• When an old woman is trying to sell Donkey, he runs away
• While running away, Donkey runs into Shrek and because he's an Ogre, he expects Shrek to fight the battle for him
• Donkey quickly find a friend in Shrek before he even really met
• Always making jokes with Shrek and Fiona

• loves to play practical jokes
• is easygoing
• is charming and playful
• has strong imagination and is full of ideas
• hates authority figures
• runs instead of fighting
• expects other to bail him out of a crisis

Lord Farquaad

Protagonist

Archetype: Posiedon

Examples of Archetype:

• smart and intellectual
• will seek revenge for a harm done to him
• full of passion and intensity
• invades other peoples boundaries
• takes things to extremes
• self-centered

Examples from movie

• Is smart enough to be the kind of Duloc
• Always makes sure he has seen what he looks like before he leaves his room
• Took apart gingerbread man to get the information he wanted
• Wants to marry Fiona, someone he doesn't know so he can remain king
• wants Fiona as a bride
• Doesn't give Shrek his home and privacy till he delivers Fiona to him

Shrek

Archetype: Osiris

Examples of Archetype:

• prefers to be alone
• could easily live a life of solitude
• sometimes withdrawn from social situations
• pessimistic
• tells people the truth, even when harsh
• doubts himself

Examples from movie:

• lives alone at his swamp
• Only talks to the townspeople when they go to his swamp to get rid of him
• when he gets a chance to make a friend, Donkey, he tries his best not to
• Tells Fiona that she's not going to get the fairytale story she wants
• Yells, at Donkey, that nobody likes an Ogre and his "bark is worse than his bite"