Sense Of Duty And High Motivation example essay topic

Integrity First Service Before Self And Excellence in All We Do -U.S. Air Force Core Values These values were compiled by the military to describe what is expected from everybody, but these standards are held especially high for people in leadership roles. Although the origin of these is much more recent than of any standards of Shakespeare's time, the idea contained within them is timeless. Strong personal integrity, a sense of duty, and high motivation to succeed is and always has been necessary for all those serving as leaders to others in order to be respected and effective. Three of the characters in Shakespeare's play Hamlet are of a status that gives them the authority to lead, but Hamlet, Claudius, and Fortinbras had other very distinct qualities that shows one of them as the best leader of the three.

Integrity is first, and first for a reason. Integrity is the most important personal characteristic that any leader can possess. In the context of the play, this is best described by Polonius' comment to Laertes in Act I, Sc., Ln. 82, "This above all: to thine own self be true".

In the play, Hamlet had a certain degree of integrity, especially concerning his moral and religious beliefs. However, his integrity was compromised as he kept delaying and not following through on the things he had committed himself to. Claudius never had any integrity whatsoever in his character (Sparknotes. com). Seeking power, he killed his own brother, and plotted to kill Hamlet when his crime was discovered. Fortinbras, however, seemed to be the only character who didn't get caught up in the games of deceit and trickery.

He was always with his army, "leading from the front" so to speak. He was honest with his subordinates; even when marching to battle over an almost useless piece of land, he was straightforward and confident with his army, and they agreed to fight for him. Second, a strong sense of duty above personal gain is important for all leaders. Good leaders are willing to put their own aspirations aside for the good of their organization or cause. Hamlet, as determined as he was, seemed to be overly concerned with personal and philosophical problems to be an effective leader (Sparknotes. com). Only before his death did he show concern for the stability of the government of Denmark by appointing a successor.

Claudius, once again, had no sense or concern for the welfare of others. He was bent strictly on gaining personal power from the beginning (Sparknotes. com). Fortinbras, although not an ideal example, displayed this characteristic by having a strong desire to restore the Kingdom of Norway to its original glory. This could possibly be construed as greed, but the bigger picture was that as the kingdom expanded, the opportunity for the success of everyone in that kingdom increased. Lastly, but equally important, a high level of motivation for a certain standard is needed by every respectable leader. By being highly motivated, people stay focused on their task and are more eager to work toward certain goals.

Hamlet had no lack of motivation to "revenge his [father's] foul and unnatural murder" (Act I, Sc. V, Ln. 30); however, he was too uncertain of how to go about doing it that his behavior was very rash and impulsive, even though he seemed to be thoughtful almost to the point of obsession (Sparknotes. com). Claudius, by no means lacking motivation, was too conniving, shrewd, and seemingly paranoid for his own good. His expectations were beyond his abilities.

Ultimately, his craftiness led to his own downfall, as he was killed just after Hamlet's mother, his wife, died from drinking the poisoned wine intended for Hamlet. Fortinbras, with his highly organized, well trained army was able to easily accomplish the task of overrunning the guards to get into the court, but just too late to witness the treachery that had occurred inside. Overall, the seemingly minor character of Prince Fortinbras presented himself as the best person to be in a position of leadership. Throughout the course of the play, his plans were carried out much more effectively than either Hamlet's or Claudius's. His personal integrity, sense of duty, and motivation to achieve what he set out to do were exactly what was necessary for him to come out on top. By the standards of today's military, he had the potential to be a good leader, and by measure of his success, he was certainly the best of three in Shakespeare's play.