In the movie, Shrek is no doubt categorized as a monster. Everyone in town is terrified of him and thinks that he will eat them if they even get near. However, throughout the movie you see that that is not the case at all. Yes, he is angry and rude, but not once does he kill or eat anyone. He lives simply and peacefully and by himself. But then his swamp gets invaded and goes on a journey to find whoever is responsible. Following Shrek on his journey, you begin to see that the only reason he is even angry is because society makes him out to be a monster. They dehumanize him by making and putting up posters of him eating civilians so anytime he is seen, people just come after him with pitchforks and lit torches. It almost becomes somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy. They keep making him out to be such a heartless monster that soon it is what he becomes. He isolates himself and is just bitter from what society has done to him. i think this is a crucial point because 'monsters' are made this way. If you keep calling someone something and treating them a certain way, soon that is how they perceive themselves and how they think they should or may as well act.
People make the mistake of judging him before they really know anything. Shrek has layers, “like an onion”, this metaphor clearly illustrates that Shrek is a far more complicated character, with much
more depth than “Rawr!!! I’m going to eat you.” Shrek’s appearance is not a pleasant one, but people assume that his vulgar exterior is analogous to him behaving as a monster, demonstrating the consequences
of stereotyping. The movie encourages the audience to look beyond appearance and first impressions, because there is generally always more depth to a person, than at first glance.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ogres+are+like+onions&aq=0
Why do you think Shrek is so adamant about being an onion, rather than something sweeter, like chocolate cake? Do you think instinct had anything to do when people react to seeing Shrek (FEAR)? Does this
justify their behavior?
Mara and Sam
Since onion is used as a metaphoric term, it cannot be substituted with other terms only because onion is pungent. Like onion has several layers to take off to see the core, Shrek has his kind-hearted mind in the deep inside of him, even though his outward appearance is an ogre. Moreover, it is not a wonder that people (in the film) instinctly fear and stay away from Shrek, because Shrek did not have a human-appearance which people only saw during their whole lives. It takes time for everyone to accept a thing that he/she has never experienced before.
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