Shrek: Ogres are like onions.
Donkey: They stink?
Shrek: Yes. No.
Donkey: Oh, they make you cry.
Shrek: No.
Donkey: Oh, you leave em out in the sun, they get all brown, start sproutin’ little white hairs.
Shrek: No. Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers.
I love Shrek. Shrek is a reluctant anti-hero in an anti-fairy tale. The movie starts out with Shrek living on his own and minding his own business. Then, the winds of change blow and Shrek is faced with a swamp load of fairy tale characters who, if truth be known, do not live up to their fairy tale story. Shrek is, of course, very unhappy about his situation. When he discovers Lord Farquaad is responsible for his overrun swamp, he marches off to confront this troublesome ruler. Along the way, Shrek picks up an irritating sidekick named Donkey. After a battle with Lord Farquaad’s knights and subsequent confrontation with the less than noble ruler, Shrek discovers that he must go on a quest that Lord Farquaad refuses to do for himself. I mean why do something like endanger your life if you can thrust that work on someone else? Thus, begins the incredible journey of the lone grumpy ogre Shrek.
There are so many messages to gain from this movie. Like the above quote suggests, this movie has layers. First, it satirizes the antiquated fairy tale theme of a knight in shining armour rescuing the beautiful princess. Shrek is no knight in shining armour. Princess Fiona, in turns out, is no beautiful princess locked in a tower. Fiona has a deep, dark secret. She, herself, is a part-time ogre. Aren’t we all?
Second, the film teaches tolerance and ultimately acceptance. No one is who they appear to be. Shrek, the ogre, turns out to be a courageous and compassionate hero. The dragon, who guards the castle, is a woman who finds love in an unexpected place. On the other hand, Lord Farquaad is shallow and little man who wants to be king at all costs. We learn, as we travel with Shrek, that being alone may work for short term but in long term, being with friends, no matter how quirky they are, is better than being alone.
My favorite message, though, is taken from the above quote-ogres have layers! Like Shrek, I like to be treated as a complex human being. Most people, when they first meet me, see my disability. It’s hard not to notice my “unique” walk. I have the classic scissor gait walk-meaning that my legs open above my knee, pinch in at my knees, and open below my knees like those old-fashioned steel scissors. Also, my feet precariously turn in on themselves. I look like I could fall over at any time. Lastly, I have a speech impediment which causes difficulty in the speed and enunciation of my words. So, upon meeting me, people treat me in two quite different ways. The first way is to make everything about my disability. Either I need tremendous help, or I need to ensure I keep my independence. Either way, the entire conversation relates to my disability. Like I said, it is hard not to notice the leaning tower of Pat.
The opposite way truly fascinates me. People will ignore or claim to “forget” that I have a disability. I understand their reasoning behind this approach. People who ignore my disability want to be open-minded and fair. I used to love and appreciate this approach when I was younger, however, as I grow older, I need to acknowledge the elephant in room without feeling guilty. Also, I want to advocate for the next generation. Discrimination is still alive and well, even in tolerant Canada and I want to both acknowledge and fight against these harmful practices.
Thus far, it seems like I am the one mainly talking about my disability. True! I am finding that I must talk about the elephant in the room in order to have it removed. I also want to talk about other aspects of myself. In my counselling internship, I learned this technique whereupon I would ask the client – “who are you?”. They would answer with a categorization that would limit or stereotype themselves. I, as a counselor, would answer back with a category that can help broaden their view of themselves. Then, I would answer, “Isn’t it great that you’re both at the same time. The whole idea is to teach that individual that they are complex, multilayered human being. In sum, they are ogres! That is what I want to be too! I am an ogre-a complex and multilayered human. One last note: I prefer to be a parfait not an onion!
