Undeniably, the works of William Shakespeare have inspired contemporary adaptations that may appeal to audiences who have never read the Bard's plays. But how appropriate is it to introduce to children, who lack life experience and maturity to understand the depth of the works, the dark side of Shakespeare - the death of Juliet, the seductive character of Caliban in The Tempest and the struggles violent in Hamlet? There is no simple answer. In appropriating Shakespeare's works for young audiences, producers often modify elements considered inappropriate for children, namely death, sex and violence, but which nevertheless play an important role in the plays. Obviously, the translation loses some value. However, the resulting reconstructions become gateways for young audiences to experience classic theatrical works, perhaps compensating for the loss of thematic significance. Ultimately, Shakespeare aimed at young audiences is divisive, with valid arguments existing both for and against appropriation. The importance of death in Shakespeare's works is undeniable and conveys many themes in his plays. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses death to comment on the nature and consequences of conflict (Romeo and Juliet). These thematic elements are important in the text, but are virtually absent in Disney's The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, which directly appropriates the play. In the film, Kiara and Kovu, the children of two warring families, fall in love and inevitably resolve their families' feuds; they are Romeo and Juliet (The Lion King II). Death is not completely removed from the story, but compared to its source material, The Lion King II omits the most important deaths of Romeo and Juliet, those of the main characters. In the film, Kiara and Ko...... middle of paper ......bridge, 2003. Print.The Lion King. Real. Roger Allers. Perf. Matthew Broderick and James Earl Jones. Walt Disney Pictures, 1994. DVD. The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. Real. Darrell Rooney. Perf. Matthew Broderick and Neve Campbell. Walt Disney Pictures, 1998. DVD. Shakespeare, William. “Hamlet: whole play.” The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. MIT, nd Web. November 8, 2013. .Shakespeare, William. “Romeo and Juliet: entire play.” The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. MIT, nd Web. November 8, 2013. .Shakespeare, William. “The Tempest: entire piece.” The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. MIT, nd Web. November 8, 2013. <http://shakespeare.mit.edu/tempest/full.html>.Wells, Stanley. Introduction. Looking for sex in Shakespeare. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge UP, 2004. Print.