Shrek

the thing about shrek that gets me is how he’s a classic victim to labelling theory. he is labelled as big and scary and gross presumably his whole life so he starts to believe it. in fact he even acts in a way similar to what the townsfolk already feel about him because he himself has taken on the role of monster and self identified himself as a monster. it’s like he said that if people were already going to label him as such then there’s no point in being who i really am or showing them who im not. you see later on with fiona that shrek doesn’t have the best confidence and is at his core layer insecure. having low self worth puts you in a vulnerable position anyways but especially when it comes to intimacy and to love. shrek assumes that the negative words overheard are about him because that’s what he’s been told his whole life. he shuts down and immediately believes he is unworthy of love or affection. however the message at the end of the movie tells you that love (actual true love) sees through all that and sees you for who you really are and loves you anyways.