Themes: Hamlet vs
The Lion King
A common theme portrayed in Shakespeare's Hamlet and it's later representation, The Lion King, is betrayal. Both works deal with the tragedy of a loved one being undertaken by their own blood for power. Consequently, Hamlet and Simba are both betrayed by their uncles who murder their fathers in order to fulfill their own ambitions.
Loyalty is emphasized as both Hamlet and Simba are loyal to their fathers in trying to avenge their untimely deaths. Also, it can be noted that Gertrude is loyal to Claudius whereas Serabi is loyal to Mufasa (not Scar) which represents a developement in theme that promotes the mother figure and eliminates the idea of incest.
Revenge seems to be the most universal theme shared between Hamlet and The Lion King. In turn, as Hamlet sought revenge on Claudius, Simba also sought revenge on his uncle Scar. However, both characters also suffer from apprehension and indecisiveness which hinders their intents to make things right. Hamlet toils with the internal struggle against killing his uncle because it would not match the terms his father was dealt. Comparatively, Simba lives under the motto of "hakuna matata" for his childhood and adolecent years and struggles with confronting Scar partially because at first he does not know who killed his father and then because he did not think anything could be done to change the past.
Revenge
Loyalty
Betrayal
Power and corruption present themselves in both works as they deal with attaining power and justifying the means through which it was sought. Subsequently, Scar's corruption is represented by association with hyenas and the Prideland's demise, while that of Claudius is seen in incest, drunkenness, and the lack of repect for Denmark. In short, both brothers wanted power denied by their order of birth and, in that, they became corrupt with lust and greed.