In Disney's The Lion King, Simba's father was killed by his brother Scar. Simba was crushed by this and had to avenge his father's death to reclaim his position of power. Although the shares similarities with Shakespeare's play Hamlet, and it was a children's movie, we can connect similarities between Simba and Hamlet . Like Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, his father was also killed by his uncle. Through his seven soliloquies we can see he is confused and virtuous. Confusion torments him to making the wrong decision, in seeking his father's death in a appropriate manner. We also see his evolution as a character.
Hamlet is tormented by confusion which prevents him from acting upon his beliefs. When Hamlet first spoke with the ghost, he told him that Claudius killed him and he should seek revenge. Hamlet was not sure whether to believe the ghost or not. This leaves Hamlet confused and anxious to find out whether the ghost is telling the truth. In order to test the Ghost's testament, he constructs a play called "The Mouse Trap" to test Claudius' guilt. When the actors re-enacted the murder of King Hamlet, Claudius rises in a guilty manner and scurries away. At this point Hamlet is certain that Claudius is responsible for his father's murder. Now that Hamlet is aware of the situation, he beats himself up for not acting on his Father's words to seek revenge. He says "A damn'd defeat was made! Am I a coward? Who calls me a villain? Breaks my pate across?" (Act II ii 567 - 568). Hamlet is not sure whether it is right to seek revenge, he often thinks about the afterlife and numerous amount of times contemplates suicide. "To be or not to be: that is the question, whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of trouble." (Act III i 57 - 60) Hamlet's confusion is unstable, he constantly need to reassure that things are going the way he plans it to be which can be seen in his virtuous characteristic.
Hamlet is overwhelmed by the need to seek revenge but hesitates due to his need to be virtuous in his deeds. Hamlet’s objective to sustain his father’s request becomes questionable with his delay in the murder of Claudius. After Hamlet realizes that Claudius is guilty, he comes across him in the chapel. He is given the perfect opportunity to finally kill Claudius, but turns it down because he does not want to kill Claudius while he is praying. Hamlet feels that if he has murdered Claudius during prayer it would dishonour his father by sending him to Heaven. Instead Hamlet plans on killing him when he catches him in the act of doing something horrific, ensuring he goes to Hell "And now I'll do't: and so he goes to heaven: And so I am revenged. That would be scann'd: A villain kills my father; and, for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven." (Act III iii 75 - 80). After the ghost spoke with Hamlet about his mother running off with Claudius, he specifically said that this is not his mothers fault and that he should not be upset or blame her for anything. Before Hamlet gets a chance to finally speak to Gertrude in her bedroom, he remembers his father's words wisely. "Let me be cruel, not unnatural: I will speak daggers to her, but use none; My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites How in my words soever she be shent, To give them seals never, my soul, consent!" (Act III ii 386- 340). He shows focus on the primary goal presented to him by his father’s spirit, although his madness was expressed truthfully when he spoke to his mother, he was able to rationalize with her. These examples of virtue can be tied with how Hamlet has chosen to go through physical and mental adjustments.
Over the course of the play, Hamlet undergoes changes in how he judges himself and how he behaves around other people. After Hamlet met the ghost, he could not enjoy life anymore because he was not sure if seeking vengeance is right. He
