NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
The Prince, written by Niccolo Machiavelli, is a balancing act between what makes a prince good and what can destroy a prince. Machiavelli believes that there is a wrong as well as a right way to rule a country. There are also some prime examples of past rulers and nations and how their rule was effected by the cause. Some of Machiavelli's reasoning of cause and effect were somewhat bias. His use of old regimes vary from the Holy Roman Empires glory days to some of his present day events. As I was reading I felt that Machiavelli was saying that he disagreed with the way a ruler of a country ruled.
This made me feel that Machiavelli felt a ruler should have a medium not a one-sided ruler. Machiavelli shows some bias, I feel that the book reads as one big bias. I feel that one of the major biases would be the equal medium. If one can not achieve peace then one must destroy to achieve balance. I feel that if a ruler must destroy the conquered lands without achieving peace the ruler has achieved nothing.
Also Machiavelli states the question, Is it better to be loved or feared. Machiavelli states that it is better to be feared. I feel that it is better to be both, feared by enemies and loved by the people. Even though the power of fear is stronger than love, in the end fear has no standing. If a ruler creates fear the people will do what is necessary for fear of repercussions, however if a ruler shows love people are much more willing to go through the extra step without the loss of life. Machiavelli shows noting more than a type of self-help for heads of state.
I feel that even though it may not be, it is. Machiavelli is also showing his hope for a unified Italy. Machiavelli tries to prove the benefits in the theory of the separation of church and state. Some of prejudices are shown in the way France and Spain split Naples. Machiavelli shows his distaste for it in the way he writes: But then when the duke has won the Romagna, and the Colonna had been crushed, two things prevented him from consolidating his position and advancing further: first the loyalty of his troops was doubtful, and second there was the policy of France And as soon as he need have no concern over France (he no longer had to, the French having already lost the kingdom of Naples to the Spaniards, with the result that both sides sought to buy his friendship) he would have pounced on Pisa. Machiavelli shows some frustration as well as some hope in The Prince.
The statement of whether it is better to be loved or feared does make me disagree with Machiavelli. He says its better to be feared by people, I feel that it is better to be loved. People are willing to go out of their way to try to please a person they loved. When fear is used they do what is necessary. However I did agree with Machiavelli about how a prince should come to power and how to show generosity. I feel that a prince should come to power by the people.
This will lead them to love him as well as to give a bit of power to the people, as well as control over the lords. If a prince were to come to power through the lords he would only be a pawn in their game of political chess. I also feel that Machiavelli had the right idea of how a prince should show generosity to the people. When a ruler will give a little then the people will love him and give much more. Thus, this is why it is better to be loved than to be feared. Machiavelli wrote this book in a time that the unity of Italy was not in the minds of most Italian nationals.
Machiavelli also writes this to come into the good graces of The Magnificent Lorenzo De Medici. His hope is that De Medici will be the one to unify Italy and has the hope of De Medici being one of the greatest rulers of Italy or even in the world. I feel that the time period of this book has some significance. Machiavelli draws upon the past and some of the present.
I feel that this book is more for the political scholar rather than the average reader, however the average reader is able to find a way through the book. I felt lost somewhat with in the book with all the dates of wars and what message Machiavelli is exactly trying to convey. This is not a general audience book, the average scholar would have a better in depth understanding in what Machiavelli is trying not to or to say. In my opinion I feel that Machiavelli's reasons for writing this is not only to get in good graces but to also express his views of how the business of war is and should be conducted. Machiavelli also seems to watch the politics of other countries a bit too excessively.
He wants to tell rulers what they are doing wrong, via an outsiders perspective, and how to improve upon it. His ideas are good, however I feel that some of his biases get in the way. Even though Machiavelli's The Prince is difficult for the average reader, I feel that is has some value and context to which he feels as well as his political views. Machiavelli shows what is good as well as bad for prince to do in times of peace as well as in the conduct of war. Machiavelli shows the reader that anyone can become a prince, but it takes a great leader to become a true prince.
Bibliography:
Free research essays on topics related to: de medici, medici, ruler, feared, machiavelli
Research essay sample on Feel That Machiavelli Loved Or Feared Prince
