Author(s)

DongQiao Chen

Affiliation(s)

The Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100032, China. 

Corresponding Author

DongQiao Chen

ABSTRACT

Throughout history, the question of what constitutes great leadership has spurred philosophical debates, literary inquiry, and political analysis. From Machiavelli’s cold calculation to Rousseau’s social conscience, ideas of leadership oscillate between power and principle. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet offers a compelling dramatic space to explore this tension. Prince Hamlet, while often criticized for his hesitation and internal torment, ultimately presents a vision of leadership grounded not in control or charisma, but in moral introspection, emotional authenticity, and egalitarian respect. In contrast, King Claudius—outwardly more decisive and effective—embodies a leadership model marred by self-interest, manipulation, and moral vacuity. By comparing these two figures, Hamlet becomes not only a tragedy of revenge, but also a meditation on ethical governance and the invisible burdens of truly principled leadership.

KEYWORDS

Hamlet; Ethical leadership; Compassion; Equality; Moral judgment

CITE THIS PAPER

DongQiao Chen. HAMLET as a model of ethical leadership: a comparative analysis of compassion, equality, and moral judgment. World Journal of Sociology and Law. 2025, 3(1): 25-28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61784/wjsl3018.

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