The characteristics of a great king have been debated by countless scholars and civilians throughout history. It is assumed that a king must be prepared for sudden threats to his country, which requires him to be a decisive ruler. Civilians want a king who faithfully represents themselves and their country. Without its citizens it is nothing, so it must recognize its inhabitants and do what is best for them. As a model citizen, the king must be honest and reveal himself fully to his country. In William Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, the protagonist and anti-hero is played by a prince named Hamlet, who is about to become king after the untimely death of his father. However, Hamlet's uncle Claudius, who poisoned Hamlet's father, disrupts the throne. In order to get revenge, Hamlet plots the murder of his uncle, but is disturbed by his own character flaws which lead to the deaths of his mother, Gertrude, his lover, Ophelia, his father, Polonius, his uncle, Claudius, and finally his father. se. However, if Hamlet were to survive and become king, he could not have adhered to the characteristics of an exceptional king due to his self-centered, insincere, and indecisive characteristics. During the play, Hamlet's selfish characteristics are manifested between his interactions with Ophelia, Gertrude, and Polonius. In the third act, Ophelia returns to Hamlet the gifts he had given her, implying that she does not belong to him (III, i, 104). As a result, Hamlet immediately suspects that he is being spied on by Claudius and Polonius. He then further concludes that Ophélie is complicit in her uncle's plans in order to make him react. This suspicion of Ophelia is a...... middle of paper ......lia, which verifies her character trait of dishonesty. Hamlet's dishonesty is also prevalent when he does not reveal where he has hidden Polonius' body, thus contradicting the truthfulness of a noble king. A considerable king must be ready for anything, and therefore be able to make hasty decisions. However, Hamlet dwells on his thoughts and does not act, resulting in the tragedies of the play. Shakespeare wrote the character of Hamlet with the most humanistic qualities, so Hamlet is not a perfect person. Being a great king requires more than any average human being could promise; we must not fail. It's human nature for people to make mistakes, so no one should expect extraordinary things, as they will most likely be disappointed. Works Cited Shakespeare, William, Ann Thompson and Neil Taylor. Hamlet. London: Thomson Learning, 2006. Print.