How Is Hamlet A Good Leader
Grace File
Mr. Dainty
AP English 11
13 March 2014
Hamlet - To Be the Prince..or Not To Be the Prince
“It is essential, therefore, for a Prince who desires to maintain his position, to have
learned how to be other than good and to use or not use his goodness as necessity requires” (40
Prince). There are many views on what a good leader may be. In Hamlet, written by William
Shakespeare, there is a loss of a great leader who is replaced by a not so great leader. Niccolo
Machiavelli’s text, The Prince, includes a list of traits that he thought a Prince should possess. An
argument made is whether Claudius or Hamlet would make a better Prince. Both of which, use
their power to try and make a better good; however, …show more content…
Claudius uses his by murder and Hamlet
uses his to get revenge. By following the Machiavellian traits, one can inquire that Hamlet would
be a rightful Prince. Hamlet succeeds in fulfilling the qualities by being noble, having overall
wisdom, and bravery along with strength. These make him fit to rule as a Prince over Claudius.
Machiavelli believed a Prince should possess certain qualities to be successful. He
thought that every Prince should aim to be merciful and not cruel or evil. However, he believed
that the end to a situation would justify the means. Even if it is a bad situation, a Prince must do
what is needed to keep his title. Whether it is being wise about war or being noble for the cause
of others, a Prince should keep in mind to do what is best for him and his Princedom. This is why
Machiavelli said that a Prince must obtain wisdom. A wise Prince will know what to do in almost
every situation, and will be able to handle it. Although a Prince may not possess every quality,
Machiavelli stated in his work, “it is most essential that he should seem to have them” (46
Prince).
Claudius, who replaced the late King Hamlet, made everyone believe that he was a good
ruler. Claudius was far from being kind hearted and merciful in the play. He did not meet
Machiavellian standards of being a rightful Prince especially when he proved to be the opposite
of noble. Claudius almost seems like a coward when he feels the need to kill Hamlet. It shows
that he is insecure and scared that Hamlet could take his place.
However, this is where Claudius
meets Machiavelli’s traits. Machiavelli believes that it is acceptable for a Prince to do whatever
is needed to keep his title, and that is what Claudius attempted to do. He believes in the means to
an end, which ended up failing in his favor.
Although Hamlet’s plan to get revenge on Claudius did not go the way he planned, he
proved in the end that he possesses many of the characteristics Machiavelli believes a Prince
should have. Hamlet showed that he obtained nobility, bravery, and strength. Machiavelli states
that a good Prince should be observant of the men he has around him. Hamlet was more than
aware of the men around him and proved that when he took matters into his own hands to find
out if Claudius really killed his father. Also, Hamlet showed he was wise when he forged the
letter in order to kill Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who were out to kill him. A place where
Hamlet falls short in the Machiavellian traits was being merciful. For good reason, Hamlet did
not have any mercy for Claudius. This trait is where both men fall short.
Both Hamlet and Claudius meet and fall short of Machiavelli’s qualities that he
expects
from a Prince. By observing the evidence from above, one can gather that Hamlet would make a
better Prince. He indeed has wisdom and is noble. Even though people of the Princedom may like Claudius, he is not fit to be a ruler. While Hamlet lack’s mercy, he in return is kind hearted
and respectable. By the end of the play Hamlet, it should be a unanimous choice on who the
better Prince would be.
Through holding the most qualities of a Machiavellian Prince, Hamlet proves to be an
able leader. Not only does he use his power to be good at his position, he dies for the cause he set
out to accomplish. Hamlet used his power to do what he thought was right. From Machiavelli’s
eyes, that would be the best thing a Prince could do.
Mr. Dainty
AP English 11
13 March 2014
Hamlet - To Be the Prince..or Not To Be the Prince
“It is essential, therefore, for a Prince who desires to maintain his position, to have
learned how to be other than good and to use or not use his goodness as necessity requires” (40
Prince). There are many views on what a good leader may be. In Hamlet, written by William
Shakespeare, there is a loss of a great leader who is replaced by a not so great leader. Niccolo
Machiavelli’s text, The Prince, includes a list of traits that he thought a Prince should possess. An
argument made is whether Claudius or Hamlet would make a better Prince. Both of which, use
their power to try and make a better good; however, …show more content…
Claudius uses his by murder and Hamlet
uses his to get revenge. By following the Machiavellian traits, one can inquire that Hamlet would
be a rightful Prince. Hamlet succeeds in fulfilling the qualities by being noble, having overall
wisdom, and bravery along with strength. These make him fit to rule as a Prince over Claudius.
Machiavelli believed a Prince should possess certain qualities to be successful. He
thought that every Prince should aim to be merciful and not cruel or evil. However, he believed
that the end to a situation would justify the means. Even if it is a bad situation, a Prince must do
what is needed to keep his title. Whether it is being wise about war or being noble for the cause
of others, a Prince should keep in mind to do what is best for him and his Princedom. This is why
Machiavelli said that a Prince must obtain wisdom. A wise Prince will know what to do in almost
every situation, and will be able to handle it. Although a Prince may not possess every quality,
Machiavelli stated in his work, “it is most essential that he should seem to have them” (46
Prince).
Claudius, who replaced the late King Hamlet, made everyone believe that he was a good
ruler. Claudius was far from being kind hearted and merciful in the play. He did not meet
Machiavellian standards of being a rightful Prince especially when he proved to be the opposite
of noble. Claudius almost seems like a coward when he feels the need to kill Hamlet. It shows
that he is insecure and scared that Hamlet could take his place.
However, this is where Claudius
meets Machiavelli’s traits. Machiavelli believes that it is acceptable for a Prince to do whatever
is needed to keep his title, and that is what Claudius attempted to do. He believes in the means to
an end, which ended up failing in his favor.
Although Hamlet’s plan to get revenge on Claudius did not go the way he planned, he
proved in the end that he possesses many of the characteristics Machiavelli believes a Prince
should have. Hamlet showed that he obtained nobility, bravery, and strength. Machiavelli states
that a good Prince should be observant of the men he has around him. Hamlet was more than
aware of the men around him and proved that when he took matters into his own hands to find
out if Claudius really killed his father. Also, Hamlet showed he was wise when he forged the
letter in order to kill Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who were out to kill him. A place where
Hamlet falls short in the Machiavellian traits was being merciful. For good reason, Hamlet did
not have any mercy for Claudius. This trait is where both men fall short.
Both Hamlet and Claudius meet and fall short of Machiavelli’s qualities that he
expects
from a Prince. By observing the evidence from above, one can gather that Hamlet would make a
better Prince. He indeed has wisdom and is noble. Even though people of the Princedom may like Claudius, he is not fit to be a ruler. While Hamlet lack’s mercy, he in return is kind hearted
and respectable. By the end of the play Hamlet, it should be a unanimous choice on who the
better Prince would be.
Through holding the most qualities of a Machiavellian Prince, Hamlet proves to be an
able leader. Not only does he use his power to be good at his position, he dies for the cause he set
out to accomplish. Hamlet used his power to do what he thought was right. From Machiavelli’s
eyes, that would be the best thing a Prince could do.