The wound of loss; when your world falls apart
Inspired by Mufasa’s Death & Simba’s Trauma
- Mufasa is Simba’s father and the king of the Pride Lands. He represents love, wisdom, and protection, everything stable and good in Simba’s young world.
- Simba, his son, is a playful and curious lion cub, full of promise.
- Scar, Mufasa’s brother, is jealous of the throne and orchestrates Mufasa’s death, blaming Simba for it.
This moment shatters Simba’s world and sets off the emotional journey of the film.
The Wound of Loss
There’s a moment in life when everything changes. You lose something or someone you thought would always be there; maybe a parent, a home, a relationship, your innocence, or your sense of self. That’s what happened to Simba. One minute he was a child basking in his father’s love. The next, he was alone, confused, and traumatized. And worse, he believed he was to blame. Just like that, joy turned to guilt.
In real life, many of us carry wounds like this, moments where we lost something dear and never fully processed the grief. Instead, we pushed it down, covered it with smiles, or ran far away from it, hoping we would forget. But pain doesn’t just disappear. It buries itself until it shapes who we become.
What this teaches us
Simba’s story shows us that unacknowledged pain, especially early in life can silently dictate the rest of our journey. We begin to believe lies like:
- “It was my fault.”
- “I have to deal with this alone.”
- “I can’t trust love. It leaves.”
These beliefs form emotional scars that impact our identity, choices, and relationships.
Reflection Questions
- What was your Mufasa moment when something or someone you deeply depended on was taken from you?
- How did you respond to the loss; did you grieve it, run from it, or bury it?
- In what ways might that wound still be shaping you today?
