Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince

Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince

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Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince

            The world over is made up of countries managed by political leaders who use various forms of governments and leadership styles. In the study of one of the federal governments, Niccolo Machiavelli wrote a book called The Prince where he presents a kind of leadership style for a prince in Italy (Machiavelli, 2014). Machiavelli dedicates the work to enlighten the Medici family by declaring to explain the conduct of great leaders and the policies of a princely form of government. Therefore, this paper analyses the literary works by Machiavelli in his book The Prince where he addresses the political leadership style for Italy in the 1950s particularly to the ruling family on how a prince can gain and retain political power over his subjects.

            In The Prince, Machiavelli examines the different types of leaders and their governments and sums up revolutionary strategies for a prince to gain the leadership roles in the government in addition to maintaining the official position (Machiavelli, 2014). Machiavelli focuses more on the evil leadership qualities because they help the prince to advance more power for himself from both within and outside the government (Machiavelli, 2014). As a matter of fact, he begins the book by dedicating the work to Lorenzo de Medici and winds it up with an assertion that Italy must revive and regain its considerable power again (Machiavelli, 2014).

            According to Machiavelli in Chapter 15, “Many have imagined republics and principalities that have never been seen or known to exist in truth. For it is far from how one lives to how one should live. That he who lets go of what is done for what should be done learns his ruin rather than his preservation" (Machiavelli, 2014). He is making hints about Plato’s Republic by stating that philosopher kings should rule their societies in a similar manner or style (Machiavelli, 2014). He also stresses the importance of kings in a treating their subjects well in order to be good at each other and maintain purity in their souls (Machiavelli, 2014).

            To back up the features of his philosophic Prince, Machiavelli adds that the prince should only act good but does not have to be good as well (Machiavelli, 2014). He uses extremely wild examples of Romulus and Cain murdering Remus and Abel respectively. These killings were the fundamentals of evil in the society, and therefore, the author uses them to show that in reality, no good comes without some extent of evil in it (Machiavelli, 2014). These killings are an example of the extraordinary situations which Machiavelli uses in the book to draw good morals that fit sensibly in the awkward scenarios (Machiavelli, 2014).

            Similar to the other Renaissance literary works during that era, Machiavelli declared his unworthiness and instead praised the greatness of his patron, Lorenzo de Medici (Machiavelli, 2014). For instance, Machiavelli says that "a ruler should read historical works, especially for the light they shed on the actions of eminent men... to imitate some distinguished man, worthy of praise and glory" (Machiavelli, 2014). By this statement, he elevates the position of a prince to that of a prophet but not necessarily as having divine knowledge but, by giving them exceptional duties like law making and making decisions that determine the lives of their subjects (Machiavelli, 2014). 

            Machiavelli dedicates the work in his book to the Lorenzo de Medici, who was the grandson to the great Lorenzo the Magnificent (Machiavelli, 2014). Initially, Machiavelli meant to address the piecework to Giuliano (Lorenzo the Magnificient’s son), but Giuliano had died in 1516. Therefore, he was not of much help to getting Machiavelli back to the political office (Machiavelli, 2014). Machiavelli talks about his miserable life situation in the last paragraph of the book.

            The Prince is specifically set during the Italian Renaissance, at a time when there was high participation in artistic work, science studies and literature. At that time, Italy was a wealthy and sophisticated centre of intellectual prowess in the Western countries. It attracted many scholars and artists from all over Europe who came to study different levels of intellectualism. Up to date, Italian artists are still prized over their outstanding artistic works in modifying the modern day art. Other reputable works by Machiavelli were Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. 

Conclusion

In summary, Machiavelli offers his vast knowledge and insights about how great leaders should conduct themselves which is contrary to the way human beings offer precious material gifts to powerful people when they seek favour from these influential men. He provides this knowledge which he assumes is the best for a prince in governing his people (Machiavelli, 2014). His primary aim is to present this valuable knowledge in a simple and direct manner and benefit from recognition by the prince. He makes an important observation that his low social position gives him an excellent perspective of the those who have a higher rank than his’, similar to a prince whose position gives him the best view of the actions of the people under his governance. Machiavelli had hopes that his patron would have mercy on his humble and low position and give him political recognition.

References

Machiavelli, N. (2014). The Prince and other writings.

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