Hamlet in Comparison to the Lion King Essay - 1255 Words

Many literary works can be compared due to vast amounts of similarities between theme and characters; Hamlet and the Lion King are two literary works in which character and theme are surprisingly similar throughout each work. The Lion King is thought to be just an animated children’s film, however, it is in fact a modern translation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The main characters in the Lion King are definite parallels to those in Hamlet. Along with the main characters and plot details, the stories were similar in the representation of the secondary characters. Heres my little secret, I killed Mufasa.† The theme in Hamlet can be compared to the Walt Disney movie The Lion King. Hamlet and Simba are betrayed by their uncles whom murder their†¦show more content†¦At the beginning of the film the camera angle looks up towards him, the lights shine on young Simba; the importance of his birth is immense, although Simba may be oblivious to the fact at the time. Ano ther parallel is the fact that both Simba and Hamlet at one stage wish to be dead. When Timon and Pumbaa find him, they believe Simba to be dead when they first find him. He is not – but wishes to be. The same could be said about Hamlet when he questions his life – â€Å"To be, or not to be†. Like Hamlet, Simba tends to need to be on his own to reflect. Hamlet and Simba are near perfect examples of tragic heroes. Both are tested to the extent of their inner strength and faith in the triumph of good. In comparison, Scar’s selfish character is similar to that of Claudius. Both Scar and Claudius have an unpleasant image. Scar is dark in colour, skinny, with long black nails and green evil eyes. The eyes represent jealousy, greed, and envy. Both characters are â€Å"thinly veiled† and scheme to destroy people they dislike. In the opening scene of the Lion King, Mufasa confronts his brother Scar. â€Å"Don’t turn your back on me!† Mufasa stops Scar with a warning. Scar shoots back – â€Å"No, perhaps you shouldn’t turn your back on me!† This is a veiled threat on the king’s life. Because the king is never introduced in Hamlet, the audience is left to wonder whether the king had any notice that his brother wanted him dead. However there is aShow MoreRelatedComparison of Hamlet and the Lion King991 Words   |  4 PagesIn The Lion King, Minkoff and Allers present a clear difference between good and evil, whereas Shakespeare’s depiction of good and evil character in Hamlet is not so clear. The characters in The Lion King are categorised almost immediately in the orientation of the film, with the image of the characters giving the audience a clear picture of who the suspected betrayer is. However in the play Hamlet it’s a lot more difficult to label the characters as good or evil, the audience cannot be certainRead MoreComparison of Hamlet, the Lion King, Rosencrantz and Guil denstern740 Words   |  3 PagesIn both Hamlet and The Lion King, the uncle kills the king. 2. Both Hamlet and Simba are the rightful heirs. 3. Both Hamlet and Simba have a love interest. 4. Both Hamlet and Simba are royalty. 5. In both Hamlet and The Lion King, the dead fathers make appearances. Simba’s father appears from heaven and looks down on him while Hamlet’s father appears as a ghost. 6. The kings in both Hamlet and The Lion King were virtuous. 7. The uncles in both Hamlet and The Lion King are notRead MoreLion King and Hamlet - Compare and Contrast1038 Words   |  5 PagesBetween The Lion King and Hamlet As innocent and young the Disney movie â€Å"The Lion King† may seem, it is, indeed, loosely based off of the renowned Shakespeare play â€Å"Hamlet†. It would seem strange to the typical audiences of each, but when looked at closer, it is seen that they are actually related underneath the youthful, animated surface of The Lion King. One of the main aspects that connects The Lion King and Hamlet is the characters. Simba and Hamlet are both princes of their kingdoms. Hamlet, a manRead MoreWalt Disneys The Lion King Essay1031 Words   |  5 Pagesarguably be the best animated feature of all time in The Lion King. With a moral base unlike most of the movies released at the time, TLK placed a childrens facade on a very serious story of responsibility and revenge. However, this theme is one of the oldest in history, and it is not the least apparent in one of the oldest works of literature by The Bard himself, William Shakespeare. The work that Disneys TLK parallels is none other than Hamlet: Prince of Denmark and the film shadow this work so closelyRead MoreSibling Rivalry And The Relationship Of Brothers939 Words   |  4 Pagesyears. 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With a moral base unlike most of the movies released at the time, TLK placed a childrens facade on a very serious story of responsibility and revenge. However, this theme is oneRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Julius Caesar1641 Words   |  7 Pagesnumerous omens: a severe thunderstorm, a bird of night screaming in a marketplace, and even a lion walking through the streets. EZ Shakespeare alludes to Julius Caesar, in order to highlight the importance of King Hamlet’s death and also foreshadow the discovery of betrayal. One of the reasons that Caesar was alluded to was to capture one of the themes of Hamlet: that everyone dies eventually. Like how King Hamlet was going to die eventually, Julius Caesar dies too. It is this realization that is a majorRead MoreComparative Analysis: Hamlet and the Lion King1828 Words   |  8 PagesComparative analysis: Hamlet and The Lion King Hamlet is a 1990 drama film based on a tragic play with the same name, written by William Shakespeare. On the other side The Lion King is an animated musical movie. Walt Disney Pictures released the movie in 1994. As the movie Hamlet, The Lion King was also influenced by Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. Both the movies are about revenging the death of a cherished family member but in different ways. Since a long time the idea of revenge has existedRead MoreLion King vs. Hamlet2415 Words   |  10 Pagesand watch Hamlet!† A statement which might sound ludicrous at first, is in reality, more sensible than one might think. Since 1994, The Lion King has been a must-see film for children all around the world. Its 8.5 rating on IMDB lists it alongside of some of the greatest movies ever made. Children’s movies that were released around this time were all shallow and simplistic. The reason why The Lion King was so successful is because it was an unexpected and pleasant anomaly. The Lion King is a storyRead MoreHamlet Plot Analysis1651 Words   |  7 PagesExposition A. Who? †¢ Hamlet, Ophelia, Ghost, Francisco, Fortinbras, Reynaldo, Horatio, Claudius (king). B. When? †¢ This story took place in the 15th century specifically in Medieval times. C. Where? †¢ The story occurred in Denmark, specifically in Elsinore. D. Background information: †¢ Hamlet, seeks revenge in his uncle who had killed his father who was the king. The story involved Hamlet who seeks justice upon his father, then seeks the opportunity to claim