Why did Muffy wait so long?

[Panda-chan]

Why did Muffy wait so long to tell Simba that he should return to the Pridelands and reclaim his kingdom? Why couldn't he have told him sooner? It would of saved the Pridelands from a heck of a lot of damage. On a related note, why didn't he tell Simba how he really died? Basically, why didn't he tell him anything?
What are your theories?

[Baya]

Three words

HE IS DEAD

O.O

If he had a spirit, then I'm pretty sure he couldn't tell Simba how to handle his problems. He could only ADVISE how to get it done. Also think about the principles of it...You can give a man a fish, or you can teach a man how to fish and feed him for life.

[DarkLiger]

Interesting topic Panda.
The reason I find that Mufasa didn't come to Simba earlier was that he thought Simba didn't understand, he was still only a cub. After Simba had witnessed his dad's death and assumed it was his fault, he ran away confused and scared. I think Mufasa wanted Simba to find his own way as well and make his own decision.
On the reason why Mufasa didn't tell Simba that Scar killed him and not his son I have 2 theories. 1) Maybe Mufasa didn't know that Simba thought it was his fault. 2) Or that Mufasa wanted Simba to find out on his own. I thought that maybe Mufasa wanted Simba to found out on his own because Mufasa wasn't going to be there to help Simba ever step of the way. That is just my reason behind it.

[WildSimba]

Well, what says that this wasn't really a dream? Often in movies, characters will get authority figures/important people in their life, in dreams, when they've wronged, or need too be pointed in the right direction. Muffy is dead, and it's kind of up too the viewer how they interpret it. He didn't have a huge conversation with Simba, if you don't remember correctly. He just told him "Remember who you are", and then left. Is this really a huge hint too what he's supposed too do?

[KiarasMate]

Well, there are several reasons actually. The main is obviously for dramatic build up. If Muffy had appeared so early on in the movie and told Simba everything, there wouldn't be much of a story now, would there be? Nextly, much like Kivuli stated, it's Muffy's spirit that's speaking to Simba and there's certain unspoken rules that seem to go with such things. The most important of those rules being that one cannot have a life altering vision until they themselves are ready to accept it. Nala appearing after being gone so long and her trying to convince Simba to go back, along with Rafiki's lecture were the perfect gateway to Muffy's appearance. Many argue that it was just Simba imagining his father anyways, and so his memory of his father wouldn't be able to tell him more than what he already knew of him, there for, the spirit couldn't tell him what exactly had happened, only that Simba was the rightful king, which was true and something Simba already knew but just didn't want to face. For me, it was the perfect time for Muffy to show up in the clouds. Besides, there's not much Cubby Simba could have done about it even if he knew the truth right off the bat. Scar was just too convincing. Teen Simba was too busy slurping down grubs and snails to probably even care, so the only other option is Adult Simba. This also gives plenty of time for character development and change too. You can't learn a life lesson in less than a lifetime anyways.

[CheetahCat]

Pretty much a easy explanation to this is the fact Disney wanted to build up a dramatic opening for Mufasa's appearance. If Muffy were to appear so early and tell Simba everything, there wouldn't be much a movie then. >.>

Besides, Simba was a cub at the time so if Muffy were to tell him early on, I don't think there's much for Simba to do back then and it'll be confusing for a cub. Also, Mufasa could only really give Simba advice and having Simba be fully grown at the time was the perfect moment for Muffy to make an appearance. With Nala coming in before this and trying to convince him to return home because he's the rightful king was another great build up for Muffy to make his much anticipated arrival.

For the most part, Simba had to find out who he was and figure out the truth on his own. His father was there as a guidance for him to put him on the right path. ^^

[Deeri]

Simba was only a cub who not only had witnessed his father's death/murder but had been told by Scar that it was all his fault. And really to be blamed for something like that creates deep pyschological issues that you can't just get over.

Perhaps Mufasa was only brought back to advise Simba once he was an adult...after all I can't imagine a cub lasting long against Scar and the hyenas even if Simba did have his mother and the other lionesses to assist him. As Simba was now an adult, Mufasa probably felt that as Simba was the rightful King then he should find out on his own who he truly was?

Maybe the reason why Mufasa didn't inform Simba about Scar's part in his murder was perhaps because he couldn't? Perhaps the Great Kings of the past are only there to provide advice and not interfere (too much) with the future.

[PrincessKiara]

Simba wasn’t ready to take his place in the Circle of Life and claim the throne until he was an adult. It would have been pointless of Mufasa to appear for Simba and convince him to return to the Pride Lands if Simba was still a cub. He would have been killed by the Hyneas, or perish in the desert.

[SimbasMate]

Seeing as when Mufasa died, Simba is only a cub. As TS and everyone else already explained, Simba can't fight Scar. Simba is only a cub. So it was actually a good thing, that Scar exiled Simba from the Pridelands. Plus, Simba is only still so little. If Mufasa came back and said, "Remember who you are" Simba would just get totally confused. lol But Mufasa comes back when Simba is a full adult and understands. Plus, Simba hadn't returned to Priderock.

[Mike]

one cannot have a life altering vision until they themselves are ready to accept it.

Well said. Simba's position at the time was very conflicted and vulnerable, it was exactly the right moment for Mufasa to make his appearance and guide his son to choosing the right path, and give him the strength and courage he'd need.