Applying Machiavelli's Quote To Hamlet Essay

Apply this quote to Hamlet: "A man who wishes to make a profession of goodness in everything must necessarily come to grief among so many who are not good. Therefore, it is necessary... to learn how not to be good, and to use this knowledge and not use it, according to the necessity of the case."

This quote suggests that, overall, everything is not good. Therefore, a prince must possess certain qualities in order to fulfill his purpose. Part of this duty is to harness the ability to abandon all that is good and behave badly like everything in the world not at all times though. It is a princes duty to judge according to the situation how he should behave good or bad. This quote, in a way, justifies laying aside moral scruples in dealing with people and situations. A prince should mold like clay to any situation at hand, and deal with the situation in whatever way seems fitting, even if that means behaving badly. Hamlet is not a good representation of what this statement suggests a prince should be like. Hamlets many struggles do not represent a prince who possesses the same characteristics as the ideal prince of this quote.

Hamlet appears to be indecisive in his struggles throughout the play, but I think a more proper word to describe him would be thorough. The challenges Hamlet faces are heavy, life altering decisions that would affect many people. Despite the fact that Hamlets father was killed over power, Hamlet struggles to confront his internal dilemma of when to seek revenge for his fathers death. If Hamlet were to readily apply the above quote to his situation, he would put aside his beliefs and avenge his fathers death, just as the ghost instructed him to do. Instead, when the opportunity presents itself, Hamlet chooses not to kill Claudius. It becomes abundantly clear that Hamlets mental perspective effects all his decisions, or lack thereof. Hamlet struggles with his own existence. He is thrown into a situation in which he has to decipher between ethics, moral, and religion.