Hamlet and Nixon?!

Shakespeare. The name itself strikes fear into students' hearts, but his plays still contain enough relevance to  apply to each student and her life to this day. His multitude of works have become common allusions and the basis for a myriad of modern books, plays, and movies. His themes are well-developed, yet simple; his characters confusing, yet clearly defined. Trust me, it's not just the fancy diction and inverted sentences that attract such a large audience to his plays.

As one of his many tragedies, Hamlet has gained a wonderful reputation as a phenomenal play, carrying many profound themes. As stated in Hamlet, "something is rotten in the state of Denmark" is one of the most important running themes  (I. iv. 67). Shakespeare connects the morally indecent behavior of Gertrude and Claudius to the slow rotting of the entire kingdom under their rule. Repeatedly, the characters incorporate "state", "decay", and other synonyms into their speech, highlighting Shakespeare's purpose: exposing the destruction that can lead from corruption of leaders.

Though we, the United States of America, are not run by a monarchy anymore, this theme of "high authority wields great power" is still evident. When President Nixon broke a moral law and violated the sanctity of the American people's trust, he took with him a little piece of America's respectability. The Watergate scandal was an embarrassing and shameful event in American history, much like the distasteful incest in Hamlet. Rulers must remain respectable in order for countries to run smoothly.