Claudius As A Machiavelli Villain

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Kennedy 1
Heather Kennedy
Mrs. Cercone
ENG 4U
May 8th, 2014
Claudius as a Machiavelli Villain
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, King Claudius is a perfect example of a Machiavelli Villain. In The Prince, by Niccolò Machiavelli, a set of guidelines to be a powerful ruler are displayed. Ideas on how the prince of a country could set out to attain power and how he might keep that power once he had secured it(McLean). A Machiavellian is a person whose sole purpose is to manipulate and corrupt others for their own gain. The main rule is to obtain power by all means necessary and to keep that power. There are several characteristics that must be present in order to be a successful Machiavelli Villain. These characteristics are present in King Claudius, the King has obtained the throne and constantly defends his position, he uses others to assist in his plans, and finally he shows no remorse for his actions. All indicating that King Claudius is a Machiavelli Villain.
In The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli, it is stated that “If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared”(Machiavelli,Ch. 3). Claudius’ thirst for the throne led to the murder of King Hamlet. In order for King Claudius to retain the throne, it must be made open for him. In order for Claudius to do this effectively the elimination of King Hamlet was imperative for his plan. It was important for Claudius to eliminate King Hamlet completely in order for Claudius to be secured in his position as king of Denmark. The Ghost of late King Hamlet reveals the crime in which Claudius committed to obtain the throne in a speech with Prince Hamlet:
Kennedy 2
A serpent stung me-so the whole ear of Denmark
Is by a forged process of my death
Rankl...

... middle of paper ...

...t. Unfortunately for Claudius, Gertrude in her last breath reveals that there was poison in the wine. This causes Hamlet to react and kill King Claudius, ending his rule and his life.
Claudius shows no remorse for the deaths of any of the other characters that he has indirectly brought fatal ends to. Claudius also found others that were willing to do his work for him. Lastly, Claudius was continually ensuring that his throne was never at risk of being taken by eliminating anyone who may jeopardized his plan for power. Through Claudius’ lack of remorse, manipulation of others, and constant defence of his position on the throne, Claudius is a perfect Machiavelli Villain. He is one to follow all the guidelines that were essential, from Machiavelli’s point of view, to be a powerful king. Although, in the fatal end, he lost the one thing he strived for most, power.

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