Go go go

The catalyst from the theory comes from how uncertain he sounds when first introducing himself. The “uhhh……shrek” definitely sounds like something he kinda came up with on the spot. It’s even supported when he first introduces himself to Fiona, saying it in almost the same way.

But it’s a theory that seems to make sense. None of the signs or decorations in his swamp are marked with his name (unless you count the title card in the mud, but that’s probably not diagetic). There’s no record of his existence outside of simply “ogre”. And that’s all he’d ever really been to the world. The theme of him being seen as a monster is obviously seen throughout the movie quite a bit, but that can also be seen with how he’s addressed throughout the movie.

I took a look over the transcript for the point. Up until halfway through the movie, there are only two characters who say Shrek’s name. Shrek himself, once when introducing himself, and Donkey. The first time anyone else says his name is when he first saves Fiona and asks his name, still believing him to be Prince Charming. Of course, after finding how unorthodox he is and then learning he’s an ogre, she doesn’t refer to him by name at all until the next day after the Robin Hood encounter. At no point in the movie does anyone else say the word “Shrek”. Not even Lord Farquaad. Farquaad always refers to him as “the beast” or “this thing” or “the ogre”. And that’s part of the theme of how he is seen by the rest of the world. As far as he knows, he doesn’t have a name. He’s just…an ogre.

blue:

[image description: two panels. in the first, moomintroll is standing in the snow wearing a scarf and holding a tree trunk, as another creature looks on with a nervous expression. moomintroll is scowling and saying, “there will be no peace among our women if i don’t…”. in the next panel, moomintroll is now running through the snow, still scowling and holding the tree trunk as he finishes his statement, “kill him!”. end of description ]

declan:

[image description: two panels. in the first, moominpapa (who wears a black top hat) is watching snufkin (wearing a tall hat and loose shirt, with a smoking pipe in his mouth) fishing on a bank. we are looking at them from behind. moominpapa says, “snufkin, i have to confess that the police are after me.” in the next panel, we see the two from the front; moominpapa is frowning as he says, “not murder this time, just a bit of counterfeiting and smuggling.” end of description]

ronan:

[image description: moomintroll is marching towards the edge of a precipice, his hands are clenched and he has a dark, flat object covering his eyes. he says, “i only want to live in peace and plant potatoes and dream!”. end of description]

adam:

[image description: an unseen character says “he didn’t mean to kill you!”. in the panel, moomintroll stands with his back to the viewer, looking over his shoulder with a scowl as he says, “yes, i did”. end of description]

noah:

[image description: moomintroll has a worried expression as he watches moominpapa paint their house black. there are streaks of black paint on the exterior wall of the house and the front door. moominpapa is wearing a black top hat and holds a paintbrush; by his feet is a can of black paint. moomintroll says “have you gone crazy? black?”. moominpapa responds, “my dear son, it is to remind us that joy is not eternal…”. end of description]

gansey:

[image description: moominpapa sits on a round, black rock. he has a black top hat and a pair of glasses on. he is typing on a typewriter and there are several sheets of blank paper surrounding him. he has a stern look on his face as he says, “all that matters is i want to write now!”. end of description]

henry:

[image description: moomintroll is speaking to snufkin. skufkin is sat down on the pebbly ground, smoking a pipe; he’s holding a fishing rod and has his head in his free hand. moomintroll stands behind him, holding a book with the title “how to be a magnetic personality”, and he has his free hand raised. moomintroll is saying, “my dear chap/lady - as the case may be!”. end of description]

the grey man:

[image description: moominmama is serving lemon juice to two figures, who are covered in long dark hair, with only their eyes and noses visible. they both wear black bowler hats, and one has their back turned to the viewer. the two figures are sat at a dining table covered in a white cloth with three empty glasses. moominmama wears an apron and carries a purse and a pitcher of juice as she asks, “some lemon juice?”. the hairy figure facing towards the viewer responds, “you think gangsters drink juice ma’am?”. end of description]

the women of 300 fox way:

[image description: three panels. in the first, moomintroll, snorkmaiden and moominpapa are at the beach, looking with alarm at a striped apron on the sand. moomintroll says, “mama’s apron! she’s thrown her apron away!”. moominpapa responds “she must be desperate.”. 

second panel, moomintroll is now leaning over a black purse, and moominpapa stands behind him, both with worried expressions. moominpapa says, “her handbag! this looks bad…” and moomintroll says, “she’s out of her mind.”