Machiavelli's The Prince

Machiavelli wrote The Prince in 16th-century. His methods of acquiring and maintaining rule over people are not relevant in today’s modern American society. There are many principles that are still true in politics today, but the methods of ruling can no longer be used in American society today.

The Oxford Dictionary defines the term “Machiavellian” as someone who is cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics or in advancing one’s career. These principles, as well as others, were established in Niccolo Machiavelli’s book, The Prince. The Prince dwelves on what a person needs to do to obtain and maintain power in a principality. Although it was written nearly 500 years ago, it has influenced countless rulers over time. A great example of one of these rulers is Joseph Stalin, dictator of the U.S.S.R (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) from 1929 - 1953.

Machiavelli’s, The Prince, a book written by Niccolò Machiavelli, is a read that most people wouldn’t prefer to read as a first option but in defense to Niccolo, it brings out many themes such as Goodwill and Hatred, Free will, and Human Nature. “It is known from his personal correspondence that The Prince was written during 1513, the year after the Medici took control of Florence, and a few months after Machiavelli 's arrest, torture, and banishment by the Medici regime” (Bio.com). The novel was written during a time of political turbulence as a practical guide to help Lorenzo de Medici stay in power. As well with the following themes, the book contains suspenseful moments as well as action packed pages. The whole book itself is set during the backdrop of the Italian Renaissance, a period of intense activity in art, literature and science. It is also an analysis of how to acquire and obtain political power.

History 's most prominent leaders have shown extreme congruence. These leaders almost always hold reality over ethics. How can we classify lying and manipulative leaders as immoral when their duplicity is the very reason a society can maintain stability? This idea has of "means justifying the ends" has been a staple in History 's most prosperous of societies. Machiavelli 's novel The Prince was the first stab at understanding this human tendency of what is now known as Machiavellian. Machiavelli grasped the sad reality of our world and did not fall prey to other 's idealistic propaganda. Great leaders understand what the endless potential they hold, they can manipulate their followers to make best of what is possible and above all they understand sacrifice. Modern day Machiavellians and successful leaders think realistically and communicate through idealism. No matter the extremes of your belief, utilizing Machiavellian tactics have the capability to bring anyone to power.

Machiavelli begin the works of “The Prince” after his arrest in 1513. “The Prince” was a dedication to the late “Lorenzo the Magnificent.” Machiavelli outlined the strategies a prince must follow to be successful in leading a city. “The Prince” was written in the 1500s Machiavelli did not expect the concepts to apply to the twentieth century. His work could be considered a guide for leaders to advise them on how to exercise power over a state.

In The Prince, Machiavelli’s primary focus is on how a prince should act when exercising his political power. Machiavelli argues that a prince should first separate his public and private life. Therefore, a prince must be willing to deceive his people in thinking he is the best suited leader. Although a prince may need to act immoral at times, he must not abuse his power. A prince must only practice acts of manipulation, coercion, and deceit, to protect his power.

The Prince is essentially a guide book on how to acquire and maintain political power. We can think of it as a collection of rules and methods to achieve a level of superior authority. Its main focus is that the ends—no matter how immoral—justify the means for preserving political authority. While some may agree with this mindset of thinking many today dismiss Machiavelli as a cynic. The book shows rulers how it is that they should act to survive in the real world to maintain authority. While Niccolo Machiavelli’s ideas can be radical, they helped to spark a revolution in political philosophy. Although his ideas might have not been completely original, they were very different and unheard of at the time, The Prince, was published. Machiavelli uses many methods to convey his messages including biblical comparisons and of course metaphors. This character can be viewed in several manners. He is almighty and powerful, stopping at nothing to achieve his goals or have his ways. While this quality does qualify him to be a might leader it also raises the question of immorality. How far will one go to maintain order? Would you stop at nothing to achieve this task? Machiavelli shows this by saying, “it is

The implicit tension between pragmatism and Christian ethics within texts signifies a contextual desire to alter social and political attitudes. Machiavelli’s The Prince (1513) was founded on emerging principles of Renaissance Humanism that privileged reason over Christian morality, which in turn influenced Shakespeare’s representation of the political opportunism that underpinned the assassination and chaotic aftermath of Julius Caesar (1599). Both texts share commonality in their examination of the timeless lust for power that underpinned the tension between the pragmatism emerging from Renaissance Humanism and the conservative religious ethics of the16th Century. Machiavelli represents the experiences of important power figures from history

Written in 1513, The Prince gives advice to princes on how to expand and maintain political control. The author, Nicolló Machiavelli, spent a big part of his life studying history and different political situations. He put together a little book and sent it to Lorenzo the Magnificent, the governor of Florence. This gesture was done to grant Machiavelli a position in the Florentine government and get respect from the powerful Medici family. In the treatise, Machiavelli analyzes historical and hypothetical situations in order to demonstrate the correct and incorrect actions. Additionally, he discusses important rulers in history and how they dealt with the population of their land. Machiavelli often mentions human nature and how it can be

Machiavelli’s The Prince is just as applicable to the lives of leaders in the 1500’s as it is for leaders in modern times. Although any person who is in a position of authority might not say that they use Machiavellian tactics. Through their actions it is evident that the teachings of The Prince are still used on a global scale. Concepts such as safeguarding the state, and becoming wealthy, are just a few of the concepts that are beneficial to a strong government and reflected in current political situations at home and abroad.

Machiavelli’s work The Prince is, evidently, a bit dated. However, the points that it expresses maintain their significance, even when monarchies are no longer the primary form of government. The Prince is relevant to contemporary society in today’s age as it relates to contemporary elements such as North Korea, World War II, and more.

The Prince was written during a time of political turmoil and instability in Italy. In a land where city-states fought for power, empires desired domination, and neighboring countries favored control there was a void in political solidity. Machiavelli’s desire for this same conquest is prevalent in his work. He demonstrates his need for political advancement and his capabilities, as well as the necessity of the unification of Italy. By designating a set of rules or guidelines in government Machiavelli suggests that politics and ethics can be separated and focuses on how ethics, freewill, perception, and human nature all play a major role in governing an entity.

1.During the time period that Machiavelli wrote the Prince, Italy was tons of different group of cities and states. Each one of them was trying to gain control and power over the others. Along with the small civil wars over power, other countries such as the Spanish, Germans, and the French. The French had an ally with one of Italy’s oldest and most powerful cities of Florence. When the French were defeated by the Pope, Florence was also taken out. Florence was important to Machiavelli because it was where he served as a diplomat and a counselor for thirteen years. When Florence was taken over, Machiavelli nearly escaped execution and was later charged with exile. He was not allowed to come back to his beloved city. Machiavelli continued to write letters to the government trying to convince them to let him come back to his usual position of power. Along with many of the letters

Machiavelli wrote The Prince to serve as a handbook for rulers, and he claims explicitly throughout the work that he is not interested in talking about ideal republics or imaginary utopias, as many of his predecessors had done: “There is such a gap between how one lives and how one should live that he who neglects what is being done for what should be done will learn his destruction rather than his preservation.”

In chapter 14 of Machiavelli’s The Prince Machiavelli explains how a prince should act when dealing with military affairs. Machiavelli says that the Prince should be the head of the military, the Prince should know all things military, and the Prince should always be pursuing military advances (Machiavelli Chapter 14). Machiavelli says that between an armed and unarmed man, the armed man will not follow the demands of an unarmed man, but