Did You Notice These Ten Shakespeare References In Your Favorite Disney Movies?

Are you a fan of Shakespeare? Disney writers certainly must be!

Elana

• Published in Disney
• September 3, 2021

Surely by now you've heard of William Shakespeare, an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist? It's safe to say that anyone associated with Disney has heard of him, after all, references to Shakespeare's work are littered throughout decades of Disney movies.

It's always fun, to say the least, to learn more about the inspiration behind some of our favorite stories, especially where Disney is concerned. While usually, the references are not hidden by any means, the way they are utilized is often quite brilliant and perfectly adds to the entertainment value!

1. Beauty and the Beast

As the villain Gaston is riling up the villagers, he sings: "Screw your courage to the sticking place."

Lady Macbeth used this line under similarly disheartening circumstances. According to MyShakespeare.com:

"The imagery here is of a screw being turned until it is as tight as possible—to its “sticking place.” It’s likely Shakespeare is referencing a crossbow, whose string is pulled taut by turning a wooden screw. When the screw is turned to its fullest extent—its sticking place—the crossbow is ready to fire. Lady Macbeth is saying that Macbeth needs to ready his courage for his upcoming deed."

2. Genie, Aladdin

After escaping the Cave of Wonders, it's time for Aladdin to finally make a real wish an he wishes to be transformed into a prince. Genie pulls out a magic spell book and amusingly runs through it while muttering to himself as he looks for the proper spell. At one point he mutters, "Caesar salad," an arm wearing a toga and holding a dagger attempts to stab Genie and as he pushes the arm back into the book he says, "Et tu Brute," the famous line from Julius Caesar, his dying words to Brutus.

Did you also know that Iago is named after a villainous character in Shakespeare's Othello?

Oliver and Company

Oliver and Company features some seriously killer music and this adorable scene.

Francis, the bulldog, is portrayed as somewhat snobbish with an appreciation for art and theater. There is a scene where Francis, who does not like nicknames, is watching a scene from Macbeth on the television and mouths the words along with the program as it plays.

The scene played on the television shows Macbeth during his monologue in Act V Scene V. "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow."

This Macbeth scene is about hopelessness, something the pups in this scene can empathize with.

4. Pocahontas II: Journey To A New World

As if the original Pocahontas wasn't controversial enough, Disney made a sequel.

Released in 1998, this Pocahontas sequel features Shakespeare himself. He is seen singing with the townspeople in the song "What A Day In London".

As a gravedigger pushes his cart by, a skull rolls off the top into Shakespeare's hand and he sings, "What is to be or not to be", then as if inspired throws the skull away and begins writing on his parchment.

The real-life parallel would have Pocahontas, already married and known as Rebecca Rolfe, arriving in London in 1616 after the death of Shakespeare a few months prior.

5. Toy Story 3

Who could forget any scene from the heart-wrenching film Toy Story 3?

Least of all this scene at the end of the film where the stuffed hedgehog who loves acting plays Romeo in Shakespeare's famous balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet.

He quotes "But soft what light through yonder window breaks" and the Little Green Man quotes "Romeo oh Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo."

6. Hunchback of Notre Dame

Honestly, if it weren't for the humorous gargoyles, would The Hunchback of Notre Dame even make it as a kids movie? It's so dark.

William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice gets a nod in this early scene in the film where the gargoyles they are trying to convince Quasimodo to attend the festival of fools instead of watching it from the bell tower.

The gargoyles mention how Quasimodo is flesh while they are mere stone. Then Victor says:

"Yet, if you kick us, do we not flake? If you moisten us, do we not grow moss?"

This comes from Merchant of Venice's Act III Scene I from Shylocks speech "If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?"

Disney made an excellent choice, of course, because Merchant of Venice deals intensely with issues of racism between the Christians and the Jews while Hunchback of Notre Dame explores issues of racism between Frollo's idea of the Christian Church and the Gypsies in France.

7. The Little Mermaid

You may not have realized this one!

When Ariel and Prince Eric are on a romantic boat ride through the lagoon, Scuttle tries to provide some inspiring music (before, thankfully, Sebastian takes over.)

Did you know that Scuttle performs a gull version of Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet?"

If you didn't know before, you certainly do now.

8. The Nightmare Before Christmas

I suppose there's no debating this one, let alone surprises!

The Lion King

The Lion King is one of pop culture and Disney's most recognized homages to Shakespeare, as it's loosely based on the entire story of Hamlet, albeit a few less deaths happen. It is a Disney movie, after all.

Are you unfamiliar with the parallels?

Claudius (Scar) kills his brother the King (Mufasa). Hamlet (Simba) is visited by the ghost of his King father. He is led astray by Rosencrantz & Guildenstern (Timon and Pumba). He eventually returns to avenge for his father's death and take back his throne.

10. The Lion King II

I guess if the first Lion King movie was such an homage to Shakespeare, you can't have the second one disappoint.

If Hamlet wasn't well known enough, perhaps Romeo and Juliet would do the trick for the Lion King sequel.

How many of these did you know?

Do you have any to add? Let us know in the comments.

Elana