Why is Fiona still an ogre? A deep dive into her transformative journey
Princess Fiona was cursed as a child by a witch to transform into an ogre every night. This spell could only be broken by true love‘s first kiss. So why, after meeting and marrying Shrek, is Fiona still an ogre in her Happily Ever After? As a fellow gamer and Shrek aficionado, let‘s analyze the layers to Fiona‘s ogre curse and what her choice to remain an ogre reveals about identity, society‘s beauty standards, and the transformative power of love.
The Curse Origins – A Manipulative Fairytale Gone Awry
Many fairytale tropes are subverted throughout the Shrek movies, but Fiona‘s backstory hews closer to tradition. As we learn in Shrek 2, Fiona‘s parents locked her away in a remote tower, following the advice of the Fairy Godmother. Their intention was for Fiona to be rescued by Prince Charming.
After kissing Fiona, the Prince would break the magical curse, and they would marry and rule the kingdom of Far Far Away together. The Fairy Godmother, who is Prince Charming‘s mother, has clear ulterior motives for orchestrating this plan. As the #1 matchmaker in the land, she wants to solidify her family‘s power.
According to the Shrek Fandom wiki, the Fairy Godmother was likely behind the curse itself, ensuring that Fiona would need to be rescued by a handsome prince. But fairytales have a way of not following the script.
A True Love Match Not What Fairytales Foretold
Enter Shrek, a grumpy ogre who embarks on a journey to rescue Princess Fiona from the dragon‘s keep. However, it‘s clear from the start that the charming rogue and beautiful princess dynamic gets switched up between these two.
Shrek is an ogre who wants to be left alone, while Fiona is feisty, flatulent, and more than capable of handling any challenge thrown her way. Over the course of their adventures, including a misguided detour to Lord Farquaad‘s castle, they develop true love.
But this love is based on mutual understanding and acceptance, not conforming to society‘s standards. As Fiona says, "Who could ever love a beast so hideous and ugly? Princess and ugly don‘t go together." To which Shrek responds, "That‘s not what I see when I look at you."
Embracing Her True Self
When Shrek and Fiona share true love‘s first kiss, Fiona expects to become her human self permanently. But she remains an ogre. This is because the kiss signified true love between her and Shrek. The curse is lifted, but Fiona chooses to stay in ogre form.
Fiona realizes that Shrek loves her for who she is on the inside, not her outward appearance. She no longer sees being an ogre as a curse, but rather as a reflection of her inner strength and wild spirit which Shrek embraces.
Their wedding at the end of the first film reinforces that this couple has found true acceptance by fully embracing each other as ogres, "warts and all" as Shrek says.
Diving Deeper into the Shrek Lore
Let‘s unpack some key statistics and Shrek universe lore to understand the deeper meaning behind Fiona‘s choice:
- There are over 600 fairytales and fables referenced across the 4 Shrek movies and related media
- The franchise has earned over $3.5 billion worldwide
- Shrek 2 was the highest grossing animated film ever at the time of its release
- The first Shrek movie won the inaugural Academy Award for Best Animated Feature
Clearly, the Shrek series resonates widely. And Fiona‘s character arc is central to the franchise‘s success. As one of the most iconic computer animated characters, her journey towards self-acceptance is what sets Shrek apart.
| Movie | Key Fiona Moments |
|---|---|
| Shrek | Curse explained, falls for Shrek, stays ogre |
| Shrek 2 | Backstory revealed, chooses Shrek again |
| Shrek the Third | Prepares to become queen |
| Shrek Forever After | Alternate reality explored |
Across the four films, we see Fiona tested repeatedly, but remaining true to herself. Let‘s explore the significance of key moments in her arc.
Shrek 2 – Nature vs Nurture
In Shrek 2, we find out that King Harold actually gave Fiona a potion to make her fall for the first man she kisses. But he confesses he did not give Fiona the potion on her wedding day, proving she chose Shrek freely.
Fiona‘s self-determination triumphs over others‘ attempts to control her fate. She forges her own path. As Shrek says, "Fiona has made her choice, and you need to respect that."
Her choice to remain an ogre shows she accepts her true self, regardless of her appearance and royal pedigree.
Shrek the Third – Leader and Warrior
In the third installment, Fiona prepares to become Queen of Far Far Away while Shrek quests to find her cousin Arthur as an heir. We see Fiona step confidently into leadership.
She rallies the princesses into an escape from the castle dungeons and stands up to Prince Charming‘s coup. Fiona embraces both her human royalty side and her ogre strength.
Shrek Forever After – Alternate Reality
The fourth movie explores an alternate reality where Fiona never met Shrek. Her experiences prove formative in shaping the self-possessed and assured Fiona we know.
In this reality where she was never rescued from the tower, Fiona becomes disheartened and jaded, leading an ogre resistance against Rumpelstiltskin. She no longer believes in true love.
When Shrek tries to kiss her and break her curse, it does not work. This suggests Fiona must freely choose to fall in love and reveal her true self on her own terms.
True Love‘s Accepting Power
What can we learn from Fiona‘s evolution across the Shrek saga? For one, that true love has the power to transform us for the better, emotionally rather than physically. Fiona‘s choice to remain an ogre sends the message that we can find fulfillment by fully embracing our identities, beyond conforming to society‘s narrow definitions of beauty or success.
Secondly, her self-determination and independence define Fiona as much as her magical curse. She forges her own path. After Shrek accepts her, Fiona sees herself as lovable and realizes she does not need validation from others. Her confidence comes from within.
A Relatable and Rebellious Princess
Fiona subverts the classic fairytale princess tradition, while still upholding core values like courage, leadership, and authenticity. She appeals to a modern audience looking for more relatable heroines.
As an ogre princess who lets out mighty roars, practices martial arts, and stands up for herself, Fiona is a delightful contradiction. She remains true to her nature rather than letting others write her destiny.
For donkey years, children and adult fans alike have been entertained and inspired by the Shrek movies. And Fiona‘s choices reveal compelling lessons around defying expectations, choosing your own path, and accepting yourself. Those are happily ever afters we could all embrace.
