Leadership In Hamlet
Cortes, Vogel 1
Ricky Vogel, Kevin Cortes
Mr. Ryan Dainty
AP Junior Composition
27 February 2015
Who Exhibits a Better Prince?
“He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command,”Machiavelli. (10) The
Prince by Machiavelli highlights how one should be obeyed and maintain power. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, these characteristics are shown between the main characters, Hamlet and Claudius. This tragedy is a battle of a king in power and one trying to dethrone him. In the end, Claudius displays a better resemblance of a Machiavellian leader. Machiavelli defines a successful leader as charismatic, inventive, manipulative and willful; than a benevolent, kind prince . Hamlet possesses some of these qualities such as …show more content…
He falls short in his appearance by this because he incurs confusion with reality and the facade he is undertaking. This ends up being one of his worst enemies. He is in opposition of one of Machiavelli’s points which states that a prince should not let their emotions get in the way when making rash choices on behalf of the kingdom. He Split between personal morals and willfulness, he battles between inaction and action. His battle proves to be detrimental at times due to the missed opportunity of ending Claudius swiftly and effortlessly, “Now I might do it. Now he is apraying/And now I’ll do’t (Shakespeare 3.3.7475). Moments after he said that, he has a change of heart, missing a perfect opportunity, “To take him in the purging of his soul/When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?/No”(3.3.8688). Thinking he will get an even better moment and using this as an excuse to feel peace at mind, he stashes his sword, “Up,sword, and know thou a more horrid hent” (3.3.89). His idling in this is situation deems him unworthy in affirming a position of power in Machiavelli’s eyes. He appears to be weak to him because he goes against his belief that “it will always be more advantageous for you to declare yourself”(Machiavelli, 34). On the contrary, a prince should be strong in declaring himself and be able to protect his kingdom “without national arms no Princedom is safe” (Machiavelli 37). Hamlet cannot protect …show more content…
Claudius’ subjects are not pleased with him and are in a revolt against him. He strays from Machiavelli’s path once again and failing to gain support from the people, proves Machiavelli right when Fortinbras destroys Claudius’ fortress, taking over Denmark. Even though Claudius did have his fair share of errors, he did manage to have a powerful influence. He had Old Fortinbras stop Young Fortinbras in pursuing his ambitions to overtake Denmark. Also, Claudius took the initiative to obtain a powerful alliance with the monarch of England. So much so that he asked him to execute Hamlet. All in all, Claudius used his infallible appearance to obscure his dark reality. The appearance gained him power, although the reality is what prevailed in the
Ricky Vogel, Kevin Cortes
Mr. Ryan Dainty
AP Junior Composition
27 February 2015
Who Exhibits a Better Prince?
“He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command,”Machiavelli. (10) The
Prince by Machiavelli highlights how one should be obeyed and maintain power. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, these characteristics are shown between the main characters, Hamlet and Claudius. This tragedy is a battle of a king in power and one trying to dethrone him. In the end, Claudius displays a better resemblance of a Machiavellian leader. Machiavelli defines a successful leader as charismatic, inventive, manipulative and willful; than a benevolent, kind prince . Hamlet possesses some of these qualities such as …show more content…
He falls short in his appearance by this because he incurs confusion with reality and the facade he is undertaking. This ends up being one of his worst enemies. He is in opposition of one of Machiavelli’s points which states that a prince should not let their emotions get in the way when making rash choices on behalf of the kingdom. He Split between personal morals and willfulness, he battles between inaction and action. His battle proves to be detrimental at times due to the missed opportunity of ending Claudius swiftly and effortlessly, “Now I might do it. Now he is apraying/And now I’ll do’t (Shakespeare 3.3.7475). Moments after he said that, he has a change of heart, missing a perfect opportunity, “To take him in the purging of his soul/When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?/No”(3.3.8688). Thinking he will get an even better moment and using this as an excuse to feel peace at mind, he stashes his sword, “Up,sword, and know thou a more horrid hent” (3.3.89). His idling in this is situation deems him unworthy in affirming a position of power in Machiavelli’s eyes. He appears to be weak to him because he goes against his belief that “it will always be more advantageous for you to declare yourself”(Machiavelli, 34). On the contrary, a prince should be strong in declaring himself and be able to protect his kingdom “without national arms no Princedom is safe” (Machiavelli 37). Hamlet cannot protect …show more content…
Claudius’ subjects are not pleased with him and are in a revolt against him. He strays from Machiavelli’s path once again and failing to gain support from the people, proves Machiavelli right when Fortinbras destroys Claudius’ fortress, taking over Denmark. Even though Claudius did have his fair share of errors, he did manage to have a powerful influence. He had Old Fortinbras stop Young Fortinbras in pursuing his ambitions to overtake Denmark. Also, Claudius took the initiative to obtain a powerful alliance with the monarch of England. So much so that he asked him to execute Hamlet. All in all, Claudius used his infallible appearance to obscure his dark reality. The appearance gained him power, although the reality is what prevailed in the