Hamlet vs. The Lion King vs. Gladiator
            
             The idea of revenge has existed in human nature since the dawn of man. It is human instinct for a person to want justice served on another person who has hurt, physically or mentally, that person. Many literary works use revenge as a main theme for the plot. Hamlet is a classic example where the theme of revenge is present. Revenge is sought by Hamlet for the murder of his father because the murder of one's brother is the oldest sin and "hath the primal eldest curse upon't" (Shakespeare 3.3.37). The Lion King is an animated film that greatly resembles Hamlet in many aspects. Simba firsts runs from his responsibilities after his father's death, but later returns to avenge his father's death. Gladiator is another movie in which betrayal and revenge are key themes. An emperor is overthrown in Gladiator by his own son. The emperor's trustworthy friend, Maximus, seeks vengeance on the new emperor, Commodus. Many literary works can be compared due to vast amounts of similarities between theme and characters; Hamlet, The Lion King, and Gladiator are three literary works in which character and theme are surprisingly similar throughout each work.
             Hamlet is considered by many to be one of the greatest pieces of literature ever written. This tragedy deals with themes involving responsibility and revenge. Most tragedies involve story lines based on deception and murder. Hamlet's father is murdered while napping by his own brother, Claudius, who wants to take the thrown of Denmark and marry his dead brother's wife. Claudius succeeds at gaining the thrown, but problems arise when Hamlet speaks to his father's ghost. The ghost tells Hamlet to "revenge [Hamlet Senior's] foul and most unnatural murder" (Shakespeare 1.5.25). Hamlet vows to avenge his father and seeks more evidence of Claudius' betrayal. Hamlet is thought to have gone crazy after he learns of his father's murder but assures ...