This paper aim is to determine how far Machiavellian principles have shaped the action of the leading characters in the analyzed plays. It analyzes four major Shakespearean tragedies as being representative of the theme of appearance versus reality. This theme is closely associated with the Machiavellian notion of virtù, or possessing a “flexible disposition”, in other words being able to change your behavior from bad to good and vice versa according to circumstances in order for a man of power to achieve “great things”. This paper argues that although the analyzed characters follow to a various degree Machiavelli`s precept, all of them fail. Shakespeare it seems, intentionally or unintentionally follows the Biblical message that God punishes the wicked.
Iliev et al. (Sun,) studied this question.