Analyzing Political and Ethical Concepts in Hamlet and Machiavelli

This essay explores the political and ethical concepts in Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Hamlet, drawing parallels with Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince. It argues that King Claudius embodies a Machiavellian character through his treachery and attempts to secure his throne. The essay analyzes Hamlet's actions and motivations within this framework, highlighting the themes of deception, revenge, and the pursuit of power. It also discusses how Hamlet himself exhibits certain Machiavellian traits in his struggle to avenge his father's death. The analysis references specific scenes and quotes from the play to support its claims, ultimately concluding that Hamlet is not only a morality play but also an examination of political maneuvering.

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Hamlet and Machiavelli
Introduction
The Tragedy of Hamlet is one of Shakespeare's most extended and influential works in
literature. The play characterizes political and ethical concepts as outlined in The Prince by
Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527). It consists of five acts in which Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
plots to kill King Claudius under suspicion that he poisoned his father and married his mother.
Notably, the play originates from various sources such as Histoires Tragiques (1570), Gesta
Danorum (12th century) and Machiavelli’s Prince. Notably, The Prince suggests ways to become
the best prince and justifies murder, evil, corruption, lies, and tricks that bring leadership to life.
In this case, King Claudius features as the perfect Machiavellian character because through
treachery, he attempts to protect his throne. This paper examines The Tragedy of Hamlet
concerning Machiavelli's political science.
Hamlet and Machiavelli
The play begins with Hamlet mourning the death of his father while lamenting his
mother's decision to marry Claudius – his uncle. The ghost of his father appears and commands
Hamlet to kill Claudius for poisoning him. Upon this realization, Hamlet opts to reflect on the
command, knowing that the Devil pries on perturbed individuals. Notably, he adopts a crazy
behavior and melancholic guise at the court to deceive people and King Claudius – a trait which

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conforms to his melancholic nature. Driven by suspicion, the king hires Hamlet’s friends,
Guildenstern and Rosencrantz to spy on the prince who knows the plot and consistently acts mad
in their presence. However, Polonius suggests that Hamlet is lovesick over Ophelia – his
girlfriend. Despite her loyalty, the prince thinks that she is conspiring against him.
In an attempt to test the ghost's accusation, Hamlet organizes a performance for King
Claudius with visiting actors; and the play unnerves the king. After the act, Hamlet confronts
Gertrude in her chambers over her loyalty to Claudius. When a voice from behind the curtain is
heard, Hamlet swiftly stabs the individual assuming the person to be Claudius. However, the
person is Polonius who was eavesdropping to investigate Hamlet's erratic behaviors. To secure
his life, King Claudius sends Hamlet to England for execution by the King. However, the prince
understood the orders and changed them to victimize his two friends (Shakespeare, p. 1568).
However, upon return to Denmark, carnage ensues because Laertes seeks revenge over his
father's killing. In this case, King Claudius and Laertes conspire to kill Hamlet by poisoning the
tip of a sword. Notably, the prince dies of a wound inflicted using the poisoned sword, however,
before death, Hamlet he exchanges swords with Laertes; stabs Claudius; and entrusts his friend
with clearing his honor. Following Hamlet’s death, Gertrude drinks from the cup of poison
which King Claudius had set for the prince. Admittedly, the Hanlet dies of his betrayal.
The play is not just a morality play based on Hamlet's grief; treachery and ultimate
demise; but an elaborate examination of political maneuvers outlined in Machiavelli's Prince.
Hamlet shows the tricks, countermoves and choreographed moves in the life of successful rulers,
such as King Claudius - who poisons his brother, marries his widow and ultimately conspires to
kill the prince (359). From Machiavelli, excellent kings commit lies, crimes, and even murder to
protect their positions and the general public from the "volatile few." In this way, Claudius is the

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perfect Machiavellian character because he undertakes necessary precautions to ensure his power
as King of Denmark when threatened by Hamlet. For instance, he sends the prince to England for
execution and inspires Laertes to seek revenge over Polonius murder.
According to Machiavelli, pursuits such as revenge, and other virtuous will drive the
prince to destruction (p. 11). In this case, Hamlet's demise results from his desire to avenge the
death of his father. Notably, the prince is an honest individual mourning his father, however, his
uncle; mother; friends and other people from the court betray him (Lucchese, p. 27). In the end,
he notices their dishonesty and informs Guildenstern. "Anything but the' purpose. You were sent
for, and there is a kind of confession in your looks, which your modesties have not craft enough
to color. I know the right King and Queen have sent for you" (p. 278). From the play, Hamlet is
also a Machiavellian character – this is because he struggles to demonstrate essential traits of a
prince.
Works Cited
Lucchese, Filippo Del. "Machiavelli and constituent power: The revolutionary foundation of
modern political thought." European Journal of Political Theory 16.3 (2017): 23.

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Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. Trans. Hill Thompson. Norwalk: The Easton Press, 1980.
Richards, Jo. "Ophelia in Hamlet by William Shakespeare." The British Journal 201.5 (2012):
359.
Shakespeare, William. The tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Washington Square
Press/Pocket Books: New York, 1992.
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet, a Tragedy in Five Acts. London: Chiswick Press, 1879.