Similarities Between Hamlet And The Lion King

The theme of betrayal is commonly explored through stories of Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ and Disney’s ‘Lion King’. Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ shows us that betrayal isn’t just about murder and killing, but more about the feeling of vengeance. However, both texts have a powerful theme of betrayal, as brothers of the previous king killed their own brother to become king, going behind their own families back to be a selfish and ignorant king.

Through the analysis of both texts, even though they both share similarities, the opening settings are very different. In The Lion King, everything at pride rock is bright, colourful and blooming in life. The lion king also has playful songs in the background of the elephants tooting their trunks and happy monkeys screaming, making a happy and joyful environment. Whereas Hamlet, is dark, mysterious and gloomy with a background sound of a suspenseful and mysterious sound. Creating a scary and dark environment. Yet in both worlds we see the settings change due to unfortunate/fortunate events that occur during

the films.
Each text shows viewers characters that are both heroes and villains.

The protagonists (heroes), Hamlet and Simba both learn that their fathers has been killed by the antagonists (villains), Claudius and Scar. In the ‘Lion King’ Simba runs away from pride rock in fear and grief after putting the blame on himself with the help of Scar. Simba finds his father’s ghost who tells him that Scar has betrayed him and killed him. Simba’s actions after leaving Pride Rock and seeing his father’s ghost show the audience that he wants to avenge his father’s death. In ‘Hamlet’ the main character, Hamlet, also sees his father’s ghost and tells him that he has also been back stabbed by his own brother, Claudius. Hamlet, furious after hearing that he has been betrayed, sets his uncle up too see if he really did kill his own brother to become the new king. Both Simba and Hamlet are trying to make their own legacy in seeking vengeance on their

uncle
Throughout both texts, different minor characters have a significant impact on both plots. Guildenstern and Rosencrantz from ‘Hamlet’ and Timon and Pumbaa from ‘The Lion King’ have enormous influences on both texts. All four of them develop a healthy relationship to the main character which proves to be vital to the stories. Timon and Pumbaa both care for Simba while he is saddened and still in shock over the death of his father. They both give him advice, “Hakuna Matata” therefore telling him not to dwell on the past and to focus on being joyous. Simba gives his attention to them and accordingly returns to being his cheerful self, therefore ends up saving Pride Rock from being taken over by Scar and his evil plans, as a result of Timon and Pumbaa’s actions. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern also prove to have a positive presence to Hamlet. Hamlet grows up with the two and have always been valuable friends with them both. When Hamlet is acting strangely, Claudius sends both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to check on Hamlet to find out why he has been acting as a psycho, but admits the two have been sent for. Hamlet finds the two as close friends as he says “My excellent good friends! How dost thou, Guildenstern? Ah Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do you both?” Rosencrantz and Claudius find a way to help Hamlet throughout both full texts.