Student Question
What are the similarities between Zazu in The Lion King and Polonius in Hamlet?
Quick answer:
Zazu and Polonius share several similarities: both serve as advisors to their respective kings, are tasked with monitoring the king's son (Simba and Hamlet), and are characterized by their talkative and sometimes silly nature. They are trusted with important information and act as spies to report back on the sons' behavior. However, a key difference is their fate; Zazu survives, while Polonius is killed by Hamlet in a rare impulsive act.
Both of these characters are advisors to the king of the land, and give him support, run errands for him, and are trusted with information. Both Zazu and Polonius are tasked by their kings to look after the son figures, Simba and Hamlet, to make sure that they don't get into any mischief. In short, they are enlisted to spy against the sons, and report any behavior back to the king. Both characters are also rather garrulous, meaning talkative, and a bit silly and laughable at times. It is hard to take them seriously because they take themselves so seriously. One important difference between these two characters is their end--Zazu lives while Polonius does not. Polonius is cruelly murdered by Hamlet in one of the only rash and hasty acts Hamlet performs during the entire play.
It's an interesting question, one that will lend itself to a very interesting paper. Good luck!
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