Siatriz, Ma. Kristine Bernadette L.

AB Political Science II-B

Hamlet| William Shakespeare

I. Political Theory
Aristotle’s Political Theory
Tyranny
“For tyranny is a kind of monarchy which has in view the interest of the monarch only.”
Politics Book 3 Part 7
“A tyrant, as has often been repeated, has no regard to any public interest, except as
conducive to his private ends; his aim is pleasure.” Politics Book 5 Part 10
Claudius, the uncle of Hamlet, is a tyrant ruler who inherent the throne through
killing the King in order to reign in the Kingdom of Denmark and marry Queen Gertrude.
He accumulate his throne with his desire in attaining his own private ends rather than
ruling for the welfare of his subjects.

Machiavelli’s Political Theory

The well-being of the state is the responsibility of the ruler and should be achieved by
any means possible, including deception and intrigue. A prudent ruler cannot, and must
not, honour his word. The ruler’s own morality is less important than the good of the
state and he will be judged on the results rather than the means he has used. In
Hamlet, Claudius is a ruler full of deception in terms of his way of accumulating the
crown as well as the way he ruled Denmark. He is a ruler who doesn’t honour his word
as all the words he utters are made to deceive the way Hamlet thinks of him. Killing his
own brother for the crown and marriage to Gertrude justified how he value morality the
least.

Karl Marx’s Political Theory

Marxism
Focuses on social contradictions and the struggle between socioeconomic
classes, which are proletariat, who are the poor people and the working class; and
bourgeoisie, the rich people that control the means of production.
In Act 2, Scene 2
Rosencrantz: Both Your Majesties
Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,
Put your dread pleasures more into command
Than to entreaty.
Guildenstern: But we both obey,
And here give up ourselves in the full bent
To lay our service freely at your feet,
To be commanded.
The lines presented above is an accurate illustration of the social classes that
was actually observed in the Shakespearean times; the dissimilarity between the royal
blood and proletariat. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern has no choice but to accept the
offer of Claudius and Gertrude, given that the King and Queen possesses a sovereign
power upon them. Thus, these lines manifested a clear picture of Marxism which clearly
shows the superiority of one class over the other.

Montesquieu’s Political Theory

Corruption
According to Montesquieu, only the corruption that leads to despotism, a regime
corruption in itself, constitutes a real danger. The question then is to determine the
causes of it and focus on the means of putting off, if not preventing its happening. In the
case of Hamlet, the appearance of the ghost is an indication of corruption. The chaotic
revelation of the ghost, the actions of Polonius and Claudius regarding Hamlet’s
feigning of madness are caused by killing the King. Therefore, these circumstances
would out bring a danger to Denmark and if not prevented, would end up to jeopardy.

John Locke’s Political Theory

Regicide
According to Locke’s political theory on regicide, the people could execute the
monarch if it couldn’t perform. Hamlet’s killing of Claudius is an act of regicide. The fact
behind Claudius inherence of the throne which is killing the King is a faultless ground of
a monarch incapable to perform upon his responsibility. Claudius was also observed as
a drunkard king which is considered as rudeness to the customs of Denmark especially
with the recital of a king. Although Hamlet is part of the monarchy, his act of regicide
was in behalf of the people of Denmark.

II. Political Concept

Patriarchal
The role of women in the society in Elizabethan times is bound by the limited
legal rights and social expectation of femininity. Elizabethan women had little or no
control at all over their destinies. Normally, it was men who made decisions for the
Elizabethan era women. The women of the Elizabethan era were given education only if
they were members of the nobility, otherwise, they had to stay home and learn to run
the household. Gender roles during the Elizabethan era were clearly defined with men
superior over women; while men works, women should stay at home and manage the
household duties in the family.
In Act 3 Scene 1 Line 120, Hamlet said to Ophelia: “Get thee to a nunnery. Why
wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?” and in Act 3 Scene 4 Lines 94-96, Hamlet said
to Gertrude: “In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, stewed in corruption, honeying
and making love. Over the nasty sty!” Hamlet think of Gertrude and Ophelia as sinful
women and prostitutes. In the Elizabethan theatre, women are used as subjects for
prostitution and femininity.