Comparing Simba's Childhood In Hamlet And The Lion King

Both Simba and Hamlet were sent away by their uncles following the deaths of their fathers. In The Lion King, Scar murders Mufasa and then encourages Simba to run away after convincing him that he caused Mufasa’s death. In Hamlet, Claudius sends Hamlet to England in order to keep his murder of King Hamlet a secret. Simba and Hamlet were sent to exile in order for both uncles to prosper as kings without rumors of wrongdoing that could damage their reputations. Simba and Hamlet differ due to their behaviors. Simba was daring as a child, while Hamlet’s story begins as an adolescent. For instance, Simba purposely disobeys Mufasa and visits the elephant graveyard in order to fulfil his sense of curiosity. However, readers do not get to see Hamlet’s childhood since the entirety of the play takes place during his adolescent life, following his father’s death. While Simba initially wants to rebel against his father’s authority, Hamlet remains obedient to his father’s wishes and legacy during the entire play. …show more content…
When Simba went to the elephant graveyard without Mufasa’s permission, he nearly got attacked by hyenas, in which Mufasa fought off the hyenas to protect Simba. However, in Hamlet, King Hamlet was already deceased at the beginning of the play, leaving Hamlet curious regarding his father’s murderer and his mother’s tendency to move on rather fast following King Hamlet’s death. While King Hamlet could not assist Hamlet during tribulations, both King Hamlet and Mufasa guide their sons after their deaths. For instance, Mufasa appears in the clouds and encourages Simba to take his rightful throne from Scar. This relates to how King Hamlet appears as The Ghost, and tells Hamlet that Claudius killed him by pouring an elixir into his ear, ordering Hamlet to seek revenge.