... and crucial character in this tragedy. Claudius is the most controversial, the most mysterious and the most talked about character in this play. According to the quotation presented in The Prince, by Nicolo Machiavelli: "Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are, and those few dare not oppose themselves to the opinion of the many ... balance appearances to his/her benefit, strategically using them to strengthen his/her regime. If Machiavelli was indeed correct, then Claudius, from Shakespeare's Hamlet, starts off as an ideal Machiavellian prince. In Act I, Scene...

• Word Count: 692
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate