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NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLI:The Prince

Contents
 * Biographical Information
 * Historical Context
 * Synopsis
 * Interpretation
 * Five Discussion Questions
 * Five Secondary Sources

Informazioni Biografiche/Biographical Information


 * Niccolo Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy May 5th,1469. Although his father was a lawyer he had a relatively poor upbringing. At a young age he became a student of the famous Latin teacher Paolo da Ronciglione. It has been circulated that Machiavelli attended the University of Florence, where he studied humanism. Upon graduation Machiavelli had several jobs within the Italian government. He worked as a clerk and then an ambassador. At the age of twenty-nine, he was elected as a council member under the New Republic of Florence. He was elected to this position by Florence leader Piero Soderini. Machiavelli was responsible for foreign affairs as well as negotiations. This job also offered him many traveling opportunities. Machiavelli ventured to the many city-states of Italy as well as countries outside of his homeland. This profession gave him insight to how many functioning governments worked and was subconsciously the framework for his future literary works. When the Medici family was able to overthrow the New Republic this also meant the release of Machiavelli's job as Secondary Chancellor. One year after his release he was tried for treason and conspiracy. Machiavelli spent some time in jail where he was tortured but was later released for lack of evidence. Shunned by the Medici family and government, he retreated to his house outside of Italy. In late 1513 early 1514, determined to make amends for what he had done, Machiavelli began writing the influential piece called The Prince. While on his farm he wrote many other literary works. Including pieces such as The Art of War, Discourses on the Ten Books of Titus Livy, and Mandrake. Towards the end of his life the Medici family was able to regain their trust in Machiavelli and reinstated him into government status. He was assigned to write a piece titled The History of Florence. In 1527 one year after the Medici family was again overthrown by the German Holy roman Emperor, Machiavelli became seriously ill. It was not much later that he died.

Contesto Storico/Historical Context


 * During the time leading up to The Prince being written the country of Italy was in shambles. Italy was divided into many city-states, where each fought over power and territory over one another. The government at the time was held by the Medici family. The family came into power in 1434. The consensus on the Medici’s was often back and forth. Positive because they encouraged and promoted the European Revolution and negative because of alleged fraud and corruption. The Medici family was located in Florence where they created a powerful economic country. This did not last long because two years after the death of Lorenzo “The Magnificent” Medici in 1492, King Charles VIII of France invaded Italy. Hence came the rising of the Florence Republic being created. The Republic was run by Florence leader Piero Soderini. With the allied assistance of Pope Julius, the Spanish Military, and the Medici family they were able to attack Florence and overthrow the Republic. After finishing The Prince, Machiavelli delivered a hand-written copy of his piece to the Medici family. Although they did not read it many leaders in government did so themselves. The book was frowned upon within the family and took quite some time for them to come around to the idea of the book. The Prince was not published until five years after Machiavelli’s death in 1532. The Catholic Church deemed the writing evil and banned it from being circulated and read. Italy also had similar views of The Prince because of the reading’s “immoral” connotation. Italians viewed the book as going against the nature of the Church and government. Many leaders have been cited as using The Prince as a reference guide on how to rule their country. Of these people are French Philosopher Rousseau, Stalin, and Hitler. The book also had an influence on modern language. During the time of Shakespeare, he was cited as using the term Machiavel in his play. And the word Machiavellian is also used today. Both have meanings of a person or style with cruel intentions and often hostile nature.

Sinossi/Synopsis

[http://remnanttrust.ipfw.edu/documents/humanity/prince.shtml This link provides an image of The Prince when it was first published. ]
 * Our textbook covers chapters XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XXV, and XXVI. For full text of The Prince clink on the link provided.LINK

The Prince is a political “how-to” handbook for current and future leaders and their power to gain stability within their country. The book was originally dedicated for Guiliano De Medici (the leader of Italy during the time the book was written). Upon his death Machiavelli changed the dedication to the new leader Lorenzo De Medici. The book can essentially be divided into four components. Chapter’s I-XI (1-11) is Machiavelli’s translation of the different types of government/principalities that exist and come to stay. The second part, chapters XII-XIV (12-14) define the primary roles of government, military, and it’s Prince. Part three consist of chapters XV-XXIII (15-23) which list and discuss the necessary persona to create and be, in order to have ultimate rule. The last chapters XXIV-XXVI (24-26) sum up the last part of the book which reflects the change that is necessary for Italian revolution in the government and unification.Before beginning the synopsis of the chapters, the term virtu is often used by Machiavelli throughout the text. It is the concept to behave in the “right” and often morally viewed “wrong” way to “maintain state” and “achieve great things”.


 * The chapters within the textbook are included in parts three and four. The first chapter in the textbook is XV. He condemns Princes’ who try to always be righteous/good, stating that righteous qualities lead only to failure. “Virtuous” qualities can be viewed as a weakness and it is better to acquire negative qualities for not to lose the state. Chapter XVI discusses the right amount of generosity that is necessary to maintain the respect of the state. Machiavelli writes that generosity will deplete a state of its resources ultimately raising taxes, because it is not the money of the Prince that is used for generosity but its people. This chapter begins to mention rulers such as Caesar, Cyrus, and Alexander. Machiavelli discredits these leaders for practicing the “wrong” generosity which led to their fall. Chapter XVII precedes chapter XVI in that they principally go hand in hand. Machiavelli states while it is better to not be generous he states in this chapter it is better to be feared than loved. He credits Cesare Borgia as being the textbook definition of cruel but in doing so had a country that was protected and flourished. Machiavelli mentions in this chapter the importance of the difference between executions (that harm only one) and crime (that harms the community). Chapter XVIII questions the ethics of honesty. Machiavelli acknowledges that an honest Prince is a loved Prince. Not to contradict his previous chapters, he views Princes should have the appearance of honesty in order to maintain the “right” facade. Chapter XXV forces the question of luck, fate, and free will. Machiavelli writes that much of the decisions to be made of a Prince should be made by free will and not left for fate. He cites that fate is often timid and weak. The chapter also discusses how Pope Julius was able to use change to his benefit to conquer. The final chapter XXVI is a call to action for Italy. He writes that God has done what he can. The divinity behind the Prince (Lorenzo Medici) is not enough and that it is the Prince’s responsibility to change for the benefit of its people (Italy). He finishes in that change is possible for a better Italy and the last phrases of his text are from famous Philosopher Petrarch:


 * Then virtue boldly shall engage
 * And swiftly vanquish barbarous rage


 * Proving that ancient and heroic pride


 * In true Italian hearts has never died.

Interpretazione/Interpretation

The following link is a artist rendition of Machiavelli.
 * The Prince is regarded as a literary piece created ahead of its time. During its creation much of life was influenced by the divinity of the Church. The Church controlled much of what people said, thought, and the actions they created in life. The Prince is an influential piece because it is focused beyond the morality of what is righteous for a Prince but what is righteous to achieve a stable country. The book often raises the question to its readers of what is considered right for a Prince and his people. Machiavelli meant that morality is not necessarily the way to achieve this. There is much speculation as to whether or not the book was meant as hostile. The book is deemed hostile during the time period it was created because it went against the grain of the Church and subjected itself as another way of achieving success. Machiavelli was a seasoned politician and diplomat who spent much time crafting his knowledge of politics and life. He wrote The Prince with much thought and research taking into consideration his current position and the position of his country. Not to be discounted, his book was also meant to regain his status back into government after being shunned from the Medici family. Machiavelli’s handbook was meant for praise to the royal family and to unify the broken Italy. Whether or not if the book was meant for personal benefit (which he did not receive) is left to its reader. His reading is based on the principle of what is good for the country rather than the ethical sense of what is good. Moral righteousness and moral authority are the main frameworks for the book. It can be concluded that behavior of a Prince is directly in proportion to the outcome of the country. The book had little influence on Italy at the time but it is still relevant in political science and philosophy today. Although the book has influenced such dictators as Stalin and Hitler it was meant with the best intentions as Machiavelli’s greatest concern was repairing his beloved Italy.

Cinque Domande Discussione/Five Discussion Questions
 * 1) In chapter XV of The Prince, Machiavelli emphasis's that if a Prince should enquire a vice that he should embrace the vice. Of the vice's mentioned which do you think would be beneficial for a ruler in order to save his state from ruin?
 * 2) Machiavelli concludes chapter XVI with a specific standpoint on how ruler's should spend. What do you think he would have said today in regards to how our own government spends and distributes money?
 * 3) Name and give an example of a ruler/government past or present that benefits from Machiavelli's "it is better to be feared" theory.
 * 4) The Prince was written for a change in the ruling of Italy. Name a piece of literature (1930-present) that was written to have the same impact on government, was the piece successful?
 * 5) In dealing with chapters XV-XXVI do you think that the ideal ruler exist or will ever exist, why or why not?

Cinque Fonti Secondarie/Five Secondary Sources
 * 1) "Niccolo Machiavelli." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Cary Nederman, 2009. Web. 13 Nov. 2010.      .
 * 2) "The Prince." The Literature Network. Jalic Inc., 2010. Web. 13 Nov. 2010.      .
 * A., Mike. "The Official Site." Machiavelli. Mike A., 2008. Web. 14 Nov. 2010.     .
 * 1) "Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince." Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince. The Prince by Niccolo      Machiavelli, 2010. Web. 13 Nov. 2010. .
 * 2) "Machiavelli and The Prince." Counstitutional Rights Foundation. Constiutional Rights Foundation,      2010. Web. 15 Nov. 2010. .