Because "The Lion King" is loosely based on William Shakespeare's tragedy "Hamlet", Nala is considered to be the film's "representative" of the "Hamlet" character Ophelia, Hamlet's love interest.
Because "The Lion King" is loosely based on William Shakespeare's tragedy "Hamlet". This was what Nala is considered to be the film's "representative" of the "Hamlet" character Ophelia. Ophelia is Hamlet's love interest.