The Renaissance was the zenith of haute culture and art in Elizabethan England that produced prolific playwrights, artists, poets and thinkers of the 16th century such as John Donne, Phillip Sidney and William Shakespeare. Much of what was written back then is today considered the holy grail of English Literature. Needless to say, that in most cases works written during the Renaissance, in some way or the other, have had a profound influence on much of contemporary literature. One such example is William Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ which draws many similarities with modern works of art such as the critically acclaimed Disney movie ‘The Lion King’. In the animated movie, Anthropomorphic characters are fashioned out of the idea of wildlife. The …show more content…
For instance, the soliloquy in the play where Hamlet is faced with the question ‘To be or not to be’, signifies Hamlet’s moral dilemma of whether or to commit suicide or to stand up and avenge the death of father. This moral dilemma is also faced by the character of Simba the lion cub when it comes to him deciding whether to take a stand and be the King of the jungle or abdicate. At the same time, the theme of revenge, too, is one that runs deep in both the stories. Both the characters of Simba and Hamlet are driven to revenge in the similar plot. In the second article about the idea of revenge in Hamlet is reiterated when Kiernan Ryan says “Hamlet is naturally appalled to find himself failing to play the prescribed royal part of righteous avenging son.” Analogous to the same plot that we find in the lion King. Hamlet’s intent to avenge his father also becomes certain in Scene 5 of Act 1 in the book after he gains the knowledge about his father’s murder “Haste me to know 't, that I, with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge.” These similarities are of significance as they provide an example of the impact that Renaissance works have had and continue to have on Modern day works of