The Sons

Here's how Sons of Anarchy runs parallel to the Shakespeare's greatest tragedy:

- The names: HamLET/TELler

- Clay and Claudius are ruling figures of their respective domains.

- Both ruling figures seized power via fratricide.

- Both ruling figures married women whose names start with G - Gemma and Gertrude - who were seemingly unaware of the murderous plots that took their husbands.

- Both works have as protagonists sons named after their fathers: King Hamlet had Prince Hamlet, and John Teller had Jackson; Jack is the informal of John, so “Jackson” is thus Jack/John’s son.

- Both sons share reveal their souls with the audience, Hamlet through his soliloquies and Jackson through his journal entries.

- Both sons struggle with doubt, confusion, and anger.

- Both sons are driven by their fathers’ wishes: the ghost of King Hamlet commands Hamlet to kill Claudius, and John Teller's letters inspire Jackson to restore the club to its original glory.

- Both sons have the chance to avenge their fathers’ deaths by killing the men sleeping with their mothers, but they do not carry out the act (to their ultimate detriment).

- Both sons seize power from the men before them.