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In Machiavelli's The Prince readers are provided with powerful insights to becoming a successful ruler. Niccolo breaks down into steps what a ruler must take into account in order to control the masses. The character of Lago in Shakespeare's Othello seems to have studied and acted through Machiavelli's teachings. Throughout the entire play his intentions towards empowerment are shown. Lago would have prevailed to be a top student in Machiavelli's class with all his cunning and deception. For the paper, I will dig into Machiavelli's teachings a little deeper to the real motives behind the man with power. 0, sir, content you.
I follow him to serve my turn upon him. We cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot be truly followed (Shakespeare 5). lago is telling it how it is. There are those inclined to be leaders and those destined to be followers. it is lead to an individuals personal will to decide on what end he or she shall stand. It is such a hypocrisy how Lago is given the name honest throughout the play just as many rulers have been given that false name.
From the very beginning of Othello, readers can see the fox in Lago His character is greedy and his will to his goal is strong. He is strictly doing things for himself. lago represents a particular vision of Machiavellian ideology stemming from a self-interested quest for power and gain which directly ignores the limits of social acceptance and traditional bonds. The only time he does honor such bonds in when it is benefiting his tactics for deception. An example of this is how he convinces Roderigo to kill Casio for the love of Desdemonia Machiavelli gives us the Lion and the fox to relate on the issue of maintaining power. These two animals are the two ways of fighting and combat.
A balance must be reached between the two for success. The lion and the fox are related with regards to the attributes a prince must have to remain an effective ruler. The fox has the cunning while the lion maintains the strength. The strength of the lion is there to guard off enemies and the fox is the manipulator.
I believe they are both mental aspects of our minds. These two thought processes enable anyone to achieve what it is they want. It all depends on how bad we want something and what we are willing to do for it. The emphasis on the strength of an individuals will to accomplish what he desires adds a third force to the two usually claimed to affect the outcome of events. Lago has small but strong motivation for his plans against Othello and Casio. His cruelty is harsh with his deception of the honest people.
This is an example of how Lago is willing to do whatever it takes to satisfy his own will. Machiavelli states that men are so simple and yield so much to the present necessities that he who hath a mind to deceive shall always find another that will be deceived. In harsh terms, Brabant io and Roderigo are the perfect suckers for Lago's plan. lago manipulates the honesty of these two men to his advantage.
I have no great devotion to the deed, And yet he hath given me satisfying reason. Tis a man gone. Forth my sword! He dies (Shakespeare 108)! Readers can see that Lago abuses the gullible aspect of Roderigo even up to the point of murdering another human being.
The prince in Othello is clearly Lago. According to Machiavelli, morality, honesty, and fidelity are in fact related to the success of a ruler in that the ruler must know how to utilize these qualities and talents to his advantage. In this alone we can see a direct link to the relationship between citizens and politicians. The masses are given words of morality and justice in order to keep a sense of belief in our superiors but are kept blind to the reality that lies beneath. Rulers set up beliefs as a smoke screen for people to be kept in darkness. The ignorance in the honest is abused to the rulers advantage.
The honest cannot know what is happening behind the scenes or else a revolution can take place. Two brief but yet in depth examples are slave owners and the police system. Slaves were told that their purpose was to be slaves and serve the white man. This is what was systematically set up and blacks were supposed to believe this. Stereotypes are slapped down to keep the ignorant stable under their rulers position.
Police have the words courtesy, professionalism, and respect on the side door of their vehicle. This slogan is being sold for the publics eye to buy. The larger force of people is kept controlled by believing this idea but the reality is different. There is not really an absolute standard to which a monarch can be held, as the ability to lead would be undermined if he had to be held to a standard by which his subjects may not be. In the face of the public the ruler must seem to have all these virtues and from time to time must use them in order to restore faith in him. The police must catch a couple of bad guys right after they are caught beating an innocent victim.
The balance must be maintained. Virtue? A fig! Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus (Shakespeare 25). It is a mere illusion all the fancy talk of morals and values. For Lago there is no standard of virtue that determines the value of one life.
Nietzsche seems also share a similar belief system to this way of thinking. To be direct and honest is not safe (Shakespeare 71). Honesty is a vice for a true ruler according to lago and Machiavelli. The only time it can be used is when it accords to the advantage of the ruler. The truth must be abandoned along with pre existing traditions for a leader to advance. Being honest and true leaves an opening for other manipulators.
Rulers to keep masses in a bubble of false belief maneuver the truth. Diabolically evil and politicians go hand in hand. There is not much difference between the two. The only time a ruler can be taken off of the throne is when the truth is exposed to the public and then a change may occur. Fidel Castro, is a perfect representation of The Prince. He keeps the whole island blank as to what is going on in the outside world.
He feeds the people what he wants them to believe so that he may remain in power. This is a purely evil deed when it comes to making other lives suffer. Can such a man be considered religious? Fortune and chance appear to be Machiavelli's god.
A wise Prince cannot keep his faith when circumstances prove to turn to his disadvantage. The belief system is only set up to the individuals personal advantage. How can a politician use the word god with the knowledge he possesses of the truth? God is mentioned only for the sake of the people. Hopes and dreams are toyed with for the rulers power.
Society is prone to these beliefs for centuries and will continue to be deceived by a fox for a politician. Fortune, the goddess more or less of luck, who spins the wheel of fortune. Those on top will eventually find that she has turned the table on them and recognize here to seize an opportunity when presented to him. Providence, is God working through a price to divinely enable greatness in a ruler and lastly, individual will. These are the three components of human nature. The predominant factor believed by Machiavelli is free will.
So it basically stands that there is belief when the table is turned for the ruler. Machiavelli is a merchant of illusions. lago sold everyone the illusion of honesty. His name was Honest lago where he lied throughout the entire play. The cruelty of lago is witnessed from beginning to end.
The results were tragic for his evil intentions. Machiavelli believes that cruelty, at times, is a necessary tool for a price to maintain his leadership. It must be thrown down to show authority. However, a ruler must not reveal his ability to be cruel at all times. A balance between pity and a strong head must be achieved. It serves as a push a pull system.
Feed the public some good while you are truly doing something evil behind their backs. Like, buy your girlfriend some flowers tonight because last night you didnt show up because you were cheating on her. Spank your dog for not listening but then throw him a biscuit. We can bomb lands overseas but its okay because we send them food right before we do it. A ruler must avoid hatred but must never be thought of as weak. Fear must be an element at all times.
A prince therefore must take the surest courses he can to maintain his life and state. The means shall always be thought honorable and commended by everyone. Along with following this rule a reputation is built that the ruler must not allow to fall. A mans life can be reflected by his reputation. The importance of reputation can make or break a mans position and pride. Reputation, reputation, reputation! 0, I have lost my reputation!
I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Lago, my reputation (Shakespeare 50). Othello clearly gives readers the sense of importance that reputation carries. Once a ruler or enterprise loses its reputation, a major loss of respect goes down with it. A Prince must maintain a good reputation throughout his state at all times. A ruler must be headstrong and a mastermind with words that appeal to people.
He has to be able to balance the thoughts of others to agree with his personal intentions. Always looking one way while actually being another. It as if the ruler has to portray a mirage that people cannot break. Pity cannot be a major issue for a ruler because kindness is taken for weakness.
Cruelty must be enforced to reassure a firm position. Rulers at all time hold the ball in their court with an advantage to win. Absolute truth can never be revealed to the public eye or else the ruler will fall. It has been the story of mankind repeated over and over. The strong being controlled by the weak.
The public must achieve knowledge and learn to unify to gain actual power. The masses must learn to not believe everything they read, see, or hear. The media plays a major role in the deception of our lives in favor of politicians. The lies spread out and are eaten by those gullible enough to believe them. It is evil, but it is the way it is.
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