"The Prince" by the Italian aristocrat Niccolo Machiavelli is a highly controversial piece of work that summarizes the qualities a prince must have in order to fulfill his pose. Machiavelli believes that a prince must use his power for beneficial means, opposed to objectionable ways in order for the prince to maintain his power. "The Prince" both compares and contrasts Shakespeare's "Hamlet". Hamlet struggles exceedingly to maintain his position as prince, and this is due to some of the highly essential qualities outlined by Machiavelli's "The Prince". .
Machiavelli states, "It is necessary for a prince, who wishes to maintain himself, to learn how not to be good, and use this knowledge and not use it, according to the necessity of the case." Machiavelli's sentiment contrasts to the methods used by Hamlet. Prince Hamlet believes he must compel the king into madness and eventually kill him in order to make matters right. Hamlet struggles to maintain his position as prince because he lacks the essential qualities of a prince outlined by Machiavelli. Machiavelli believes that a pursuit of all things considered good and creditable will only lead to a prince's downfall. This is holds true in Hamlet's case, considering he procrastinated on the quest to avenge his father's death. The battle between good and evil is constantly on Hamlet's mind, as he contemplates between acting civil and being vengeful. .
Hamlet had to struggle to remain good at times and this caused him extreme anguish. Hamlet was an honest man, who loved his father and could not get over his death easily. He suffers because of the matters he was faced with such as his mother immediately remarrying, Ophelia committing suicide, as well as the dishonesty of others in the court, such as Guildenstern and Rosencrantz. Although Hamlet was knowledgeable enough to see through the lies and realize that they were being dishonest to him.
