of the The Lion King varies in both minor and significant ways from Hamlet. As already stated, we begin The Lion King with the birth of the Hamlet character, and we are allowed to see the state as it prospers under Mufasa's rule. We also witness the loving relationship between Mufasa and his wife Sarabi. Beginning the story before things go awry eliminates the need for lengthy speeches on the past, and simplifies the plot in order to make it appealing for young audiences: things were good, and now they are bad. Then, when Scar coordinates Mufasa's death and frightens Simba out of the kingdom, the need for a play within a play to establish his guilt is unneccesary. We have now seen that he is guilty - the viewers need not consider this, only Simba, who must learn that he has blamed himself for something that was not his fault. The movie never implies that Sarabi was involved either - there can only be one villain, and in a modern children's story this is never a birth-parent. The ghost who appears in Act 1, Scene 1 of Hamlet appears much later in The Lion King, and never delivers the information that he has been murdered. Again, this is because we already know - and also because the focus of the Disney plot is not revenge but "taking your place in the circle of life", becoming the rightful heir rather than destroying yourself and everyone around you for the sake of revenge. However, the appearence of the ghost remains very similar to the ghost of Old Hamlet, with his "Adieu, adieu. Remember me" (1.5 110). When Mufasa appears out of the clouds in the night sky, he says to Simba: "Simba, you have forgotten me. You have forgotten who you are, and so you have forgot me. Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take you place in the circle of life.Remember who you are. You are my son and the one true king. Remember who you are. Remember."Mufasa's voice returns one final time with the word "remember" as S...
