Prince Essay

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Machiavelli was an Italian historian, statesman, and political philosopher,

whose amoral, but influential writings on power building have turned his name

into a synonym for cunning and duplicity. I personally feel he is a genius.

Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469, in Florence, Italy. He eventually

became a man who lived his life for politics and patriotism. Right now, however,

he is associated with corrupt, totalitarian government. The reason for this is a

small pamphlet he wrote called The Prince to gain influence with the ruling

Medici family in Florence. The political genius of Niccolo Machiavelli was

overshadowed by the reputation that was unfairly given to him because of a

misunderstanding of his views on politics. Machiavelli's life was very

interesting. He lived a nondescript childhood in Florence, and his main

political experience in his youth was watching Savanarola from afar. Soon after

Savanarola was executed, Machiavelli entered the Florentine government as a

secretary. His position quickly rose, however, and was soon engaging in

diplomatic missions. He met many of the important politicians of the day, such

as the Pope and the King of France, but none had more impact on him than a

prince of the Papal States, Cesare Borgia. Borgia was a cunning, cruel man, very

much like the one portrayed in The Prince. Machiavelli did not truly like

Borgia's policies, but he thought that with a ruler like Borgia the Florentines

could unite Italy, which was Machiavelli's goal throughout his life.

Unfortunately for Machiavelli, he was dismissed from office when the Medici came

to rule Florence and the Republic was overthrown. The lack of a job forced him

to switch to writing about politics instead of being active. His diplomatic

missions were his last official government positions. When Machiavelli lost his

office, he desperately wanted to return to politics. He tried to gain the favor

of the Medici by writing an essay of what he thought were the Medici's goals and

dedicating it to them. And so The Prince was written for that purpose.

Unfortunately, the Medici didn't agree with what the book said, so he was out of

a job. But when the public saw the book, they were outraged. The people wondered

how cruel a man could be to think evil thoughts like the ones in The Prince, and

this would come back to haunt him when he was alive and dead. However, if the

people wanted to know what Machiavelli really stood for, they should have read

his “Discourses on Livy,” which explain his full political philosophy. But

not enough people had and have, and so the legacy of The Prince continues to

define Machiavelli to the general public. A few years later the Medici were

kicked out of Florence. The republic was re-established, and Machiavelli ran to

retake the office he had left so many years ago. But the reputation that The

Prince had established made people think his philosophy was like the Medici, so

he was not elected. And here the sharp downhill of his life began. His health

began to fail him, and he died months later, in 1527. Machiavelli had been

unfairly attacked all of his life because of a bad reputation. But it only got

worse after he died. He was continually blasted for his "support" of

corrupt ruling. In fact, Machiavellian now means corrupt government. Only

recently has his true personality come to light. The world must change it's

vision of the cold, uncaring Machiavelli to the correct view of a patriot and a

political genius. Throughout his career Machiavelli sought to establish a state

capable of resisting foreign attack. His writings are concerned with the

principles on which such a state is founded, and with the means by which they

The rest of the paper is available free of charge to our registered users. The registration process just couldn't be easier. Log in or register now. It is all free!
"Machiavelli, Niccolт," Microsoft® Encarta® 97
Encyclopedia. © 1993-1996 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Sheldon
S. Wolin, Interpretation of Machiavelli’s The Prince. Pg. 175 Sheldon S. Wolin,
Interpretation of Machiavelli’s The Prince. Pg. 170 Sheldon S. Wolin,
Interpretation of Machiavelli’s The Prince. Pg. 169 Sheldon S. Wolin,
Interpretation of Machiavelli’s The Prince. Pg. 170 The Prince, On Avoiding
Contempt and Hatred. XIX Sheldon S. Wolin, Interpretation of Machiavelli’s The
Prince. Pg. 172 Discourses I, 9. The Prince, Translators note XVIII
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