Machiavelli The Prince Textual Analysis

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The reading from “the prince” made one understand the many instances that most Princes do acquire principalities either through virtue or an attribution to fortune or by wickedness. Hence, Machiavelli made us understand that there were many instances that these princes with their own virtue had to go through trials and struggles to rise from a private station to attain their principality. Many excellent examples Machiavelli made mentioned were Moses, Cyrus, Romulus, Theseus, and such like “ by their own ability and not through fortune, have risen to be princes.” (chap. VI) On the other hand, have they not used virtue to their proceedings to attain their principality, their opportunity of becoming a prince would have become worthless and quenched. Machiavelli, in his statement, said, “Without that opportunity, their powers of mind would have been extinguished, and without those powers, the opportunity would have come in vain.” (chap.VI) Therefore, the question in mind is, what is the meaning of these Virtus in reference to these men that help them attain their principalities? …show more content…

Machiavelli then consider's Moses, Cyrus, Romulus, Theseus and such like fortunate from their opportunity. For instance, Machiavelli suggested that “It was necessary, therefore, to Moses that he should find the people of Israel in Egypt enslaved and oppressed by the Egyptians, in order that they should be disposed to follow him so as to be delivered out of bondage. It was necessary that Romulus should not remain in Alba, ..... in order that he should become King of Rome and founder of the fatherland. Cyrus should find the Persians discontented with the government of the Medes and Theseus could not have shown his ability had he not found the Athenians dispersed” (Chap. VI) These opportunities, therefore, made those men

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