When talking about one of Shakespeare's essential works, it is almost impossible to connect them in one way or another to Hamlet. Whether it be marked differences in characters, similarities in plot, or simply literary devices, Shakespeare created a masterpiece through Hamlet. Nicolo Machiavelli also invented a treasure with The Prince. Through the lens of Hamlet and the Prince, it is possible to dissect Shakespeare's Macbeth with a better understanding of Machiavellian beliefs. By placing Macbeth against Hamlet's incredibly high standards, it becomes clear that the character of Macbeth is not a Machiavellian prince for one simple reason: he is not intelligent enough and lacks the foresight that Machiavelli preached. The character of Hamlet is very far from a Machiavellian prince. prince. He does not care about his own public image and instead focuses on getting to know a person and himself in depth. Hamlet's first sentence, "Who is there?" (Shakespeare 1.1.1), sets the play on the theme of self-discovery that obsessed Hamlet and Shakespeare himself. Hamlet's thesis is quickly stated in (1.1.2) in the form "rise up and unfold yourself", which is in complete disagreement with the Prince's thesis according to which he takes on both the features of a lion and a fox (Machiavelli 69). Machiavelli's preoccupation with ruse through power does not translate accurately into Shakespeare's Macbeth. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth himself have an uncontrollable lust for power but are not “fox-like” in the pursuit of their influence. Although Macbeth aspires to be Machiavellian in his leadership, his desire for supreme power does not allow this. Although Macbeth is always concerned about his public image, he is not far enough from his position. Macbeth's thesis becomes evident in (1.3.143)......middle of the article......inviting him as he overcomes his own personal fear. While Shakespeare literally tests Machiavelli's concepts of fear and love to the point of ridicule through the character of Macbeth, he does the opposite through Hamlet. Hamlet does not wish to be a leader unless he can be loved and not feared, completely disagreeing with Machiavelli's ideals that "if a leader is to survive, he must learn to stop being good" (Machiaveli, fourth cover). Shakespeare wrestles with the notions of extreme love and extreme fear throughout both plays and both become almost a work of satire through these devices. At the end of Macbeth and Hamlet, both leaders die prematurely. Shakespeare clearly does not follow Machiavellian principles and denotes this by the death of the characters who attempted to follow Machiavellian beliefs and completely ignore them..