The tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare narrates the story of Prince Hamlet who avenges on his uncle Claudius, who had assassinated his (Hamlet’s) father, the King, and usurped his throne and married Gertrude, his (Hamlet’s) mother. The play very skillfully presents the real as well as the pretending madness of Hamlet as a result of tremendous grief and anger. The theme of betrayal, vengeance, immorality and dishonesty are well explored.
Act I, scene V of the play sets the action and leads Hamlet to pretend madness which becomes his principal behavior of interacting with other people
in the next three acts. Hamlet meets the ghost, in the very beginning of the play, who commands Hamlet to avenge King Claudius (foul and most unnatural murder I, V, 25).Therefore this scene introduces the concept of retributive justice that sin must be paid back by punishment as well as relates to the type of revenge tragedy, popularized by Thomas Kyd .This is the most vital scene which acts like a pivot controlling the rest of the play.
As mentioned in Prince by Machiavelli, Hamlet always appears to be a noble man, loved by all in Denmark but appears to be hard-hearted and merciless when it is required. He speaks showing good faith, sincerity, humanity and piousness. So if hamlet lived till the end he would have been the most illustrious king because he conforms the Machiavellian concept of the ruler as depicted in The Prince.
Works cited
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Shakespeare and Machiavelli by John Alan Roe.
Hamlet the Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare,
Edited by Philip Edwards.