When I read both The Prince and Hamlet I see a big difference in the way Machiavelli describes a Prince, and how Hamlet is basically the opposite of what Machiavelli is saying. One big difference that i see is that Machiavelli's view of a prince is this strong person that knows how to lead a country. Where in the other hand Hamlet can't even come with a good plan for himself, forget about protecting others. Therefore he is definitely not the Prince Machiavelli is talking about.
I think that the king of Denmark, Claudius is the idea on Machiavellian. One of Machiavellian’s ideas is that reaching the goal by using any ways. Claudius wanted to kill Hamlet because Hamlet knew the secret which Claudius killed Hamlet’s father. Claudius wanted to protect his place so, he decided to kill Hamlet. First, Claudius sent Hamlet to England and sent the killer to kill Hamlet. However, Hamlet did not die and come back to the country. Claudius was not happy and asked Laertes to fight with Hamlet. At the end, Hamlet died of poison which Claudius put the poison on Laertes’ sword. Claudius protected his place by using his power to cause Hamlet died. Thus, I think that Claudius is similar to Machiavellian ideas about power.
Hamlet was nothing more but a victim of his own careless act. He does not even come close to "The Prince" as Machiavelli described. Hamlet's actions were simply controlled by his anger that was triggered when he found out that his father was killed by his uncle. He never had the willingness or interest to become King, at least not as much as Claudius. I agree with YingChen's comment because Claudius was vicious and saw no barrier from becoming King, even thought it meant killing your own brother. He was more feared then loved, and that is the true Machiavellian approach.
The only person who would fit Machiavelli's description of a Prince would be King Claudius. I perceive him to be manipulative and conniving. It is only proven more so in the later acts when the story reveals how he murders his brother and takes the throne. Claudius is a character that is fit to be Machiavelli's ideal Prince because he can show two sides of a coin. It is a huge contrast in comparison to the actual main character, Hamlet. He appears to me as a very indecisive person and not fit to take revenge for his father's death.
i feel like Machiavelli's ideas are a one of a kind logic that is hard to compare any of the characters in the hamlet. Hamlet is no comparison to "the prince" Machiavelli portrays as what a prince should be. Hamlet actually could be the opposite, but i would agree the some of the other posts that Claudius would be the most similar if at all. He represents someone in the wrong in how he manipulates the situation in replacing his own brother for the throne but he is not the most warm hear ted person so i am not surprised. Hamlet and Claudius are opposites of one another and maybe in Machiavelli's theory of what a prince should be, could be a little bit of both Hamlet and Claudius.
One of the ways Machiavellian ideas about power is in Shakespeare's Hamlet is where Shakespeare writes about how King Claudius kills his own brother to take his throne and evidently killing Hamlet. Some of the Machiavellian traits come out of King Claudius, such as cruelty. King Claudius did what ever in his power to keep his throne by killing Hamlet and his father.....
I think that we can see Machiavellian idea little bit in Hamlet as well. He uses deception to protect him self of being killed and to get to the bottom of the truth. Ophelia is his first victim of deception. Although Hamlet does not want to be cruel to her per say he is using her to spread the word of his madness.
But we can also see in Hamlet the clash between Machiavellian ideas and humanism. Hamlet is hesitant to kill Claudius right away because he is not sure where the truth lies. But Claudius is trying to kill Hamlet, because he represent danger for him. Machiavellian idea about power are much more present in Claudius than in Hamlet.
The meaning of Machiavellian according to msn Encarta is someone “cunning and unscrupulous: using clever trickery, amoral methods, and expediency to achieve a desired goal, especially in politics.” By this said, I do find that there is a relation that can be applied to someone in the story, and that would be Claudius. Claudius exercised the Machiavellian method in many ways. As soon as Claudius takes power to the kingdom and leaves Hamlet to stay as “prince” instead of king. Claudius marries Hamlet’s mother and then makes a huge celebration to supposedly cease the mourning of the death of the previous king (the one he killed). This can be seen as a tactic to deviate what is happening and makes himself look as a great figure. Another example is when Claudius uses Laertes to kill Hamlet; also enforcing this by using poison to make sure the job gets done. Claudius uses every mean possible to stay on power and achieve his goals. He does not care about friends or family, just himself, yet he someone how does seem to love Hamlet’s mother.
When I read both The Prince and Hamlet I see a big difference in the way Machiavelli describes a Prince, and how Hamlet is basically the opposite of what Machiavelli is saying. One big difference that i see is that Machiavelli's view of a prince is this strong person that knows how to lead a country. Where in the other hand Hamlet can't even come with a good plan for himself, forget about protecting others. Therefore he is definitely not the Prince Machiavelli is talking about.
ReplyDeleteI think that the king of Denmark, Claudius is the idea on Machiavellian. One of Machiavellian’s ideas is that reaching the goal by using any ways. Claudius wanted to kill Hamlet because Hamlet knew the secret which Claudius killed Hamlet’s father. Claudius wanted to protect his place so, he decided to kill Hamlet. First, Claudius sent Hamlet to England and sent the killer to kill Hamlet. However, Hamlet did not die and come back to the country. Claudius was not happy and asked Laertes to fight with Hamlet. At the end, Hamlet died of poison which Claudius put the poison on Laertes’ sword. Claudius protected his place by using his power to cause Hamlet died. Thus, I think that Claudius is similar to Machiavellian ideas about power.
ReplyDeleteHamlet was nothing more but a victim of his own careless act. He does not even come close to "The Prince" as Machiavelli described. Hamlet's actions were simply controlled by his anger that was triggered when he found out that his father was killed by his uncle. He never had the willingness or interest to become King, at least not as much as Claudius. I agree with YingChen's comment because Claudius was vicious and saw no barrier from becoming King, even thought it meant killing your own brother. He was more feared then loved, and that is the true Machiavellian approach.
ReplyDeleteThe only person who would fit Machiavelli's description of a Prince would be King Claudius. I perceive him to be manipulative and conniving. It is only proven more so in the later acts when the story reveals how he murders his brother and takes the throne. Claudius is a character that is fit to be Machiavelli's ideal Prince because he can show two sides of a coin. It is a huge contrast in comparison to the actual main character, Hamlet. He appears to me as a very indecisive person and not fit to take revenge for his father's death.
ReplyDeletei feel like Machiavelli's ideas are a one of a kind logic that is hard to compare any of the characters in the hamlet. Hamlet is no comparison to "the prince" Machiavelli portrays as what a prince should be. Hamlet actually could be the opposite, but i would agree the some of the other posts that Claudius would be the most similar if at all. He represents someone in the wrong in how he manipulates the situation in replacing his own brother for the throne but he is not the most warm hear ted person so i am not surprised. Hamlet and Claudius are opposites of one another and maybe in Machiavelli's theory of what a prince should be, could be a little bit of both Hamlet and Claudius.
ReplyDeleteOne of the ways Machiavellian ideas about power is in Shakespeare's Hamlet is where Shakespeare writes about how King Claudius kills his own brother to take his throne and evidently killing Hamlet. Some of the Machiavellian traits come out of King Claudius, such as cruelty. King Claudius did what ever in his power to keep his throne by killing Hamlet and his father.....
ReplyDeleteI think that we can see Machiavellian idea little bit in Hamlet as well. He uses deception to protect him self of being killed and to get to the bottom of the truth. Ophelia is his first victim of deception. Although Hamlet does not want to be cruel to her per say he is using her to spread the word of his madness.
ReplyDeleteBut we can also see in Hamlet the clash between Machiavellian ideas and humanism. Hamlet is hesitant to kill Claudius right away because he is not sure where the truth lies. But Claudius is trying to kill Hamlet, because he represent danger for him. Machiavellian idea about power are much more present in Claudius than in Hamlet.
The meaning of Machiavellian according to msn Encarta is someone “cunning and unscrupulous: using clever trickery, amoral methods, and expediency to achieve a desired goal, especially in politics.” By this said, I do find that there is a relation that can be applied to someone in the story, and that would be Claudius. Claudius exercised the Machiavellian method in many ways. As soon as Claudius takes power to the kingdom and leaves Hamlet to stay as “prince” instead of king. Claudius marries Hamlet’s mother and then makes a huge celebration to supposedly cease the mourning of the death of the previous king (the one he killed). This can be seen as a tactic to deviate what is happening and makes himself look as a great figure. Another example is when Claudius uses Laertes to kill Hamlet; also enforcing this by using poison to make sure the job gets done. Claudius uses every mean possible to stay on power and achieve his goals. He does not care about friends or family, just himself, yet he someone how does seem to love Hamlet’s mother.
ReplyDelete