Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince

Leadership is the position in which a person or a group of people direct or instruct others. There are many kinds of leadership, ranging from a fast food manager to a CEO. A leader could be someone who steps up in a difficult situation. Being a leader is not something someone can make you; it’s something you make yourself by having courage, wisdom, and know-how. Niccolo Machiavelli, the author of “The Prince”, defines leadership in a very cynical way. In his eye’s effective leaders have to abandon morality, and look for what is best for the people he or she is leading. While this could work I believe that his way is not the best. Although there are aspects of his type of leadership I agree with, like making decisions based on logic instead of emotion, other parts I do not think would be effective for a great leader. Machiavelli thinks a leader should feign good qualities if they do not possess them. I disagree with this, because I do not think leaders should be manipulative to the people they are leading.

In the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Robin Hood is very good leader. He commands respect, but he is also feared. He is kind and understanding to the people he leads, but he also is not afraid to get cruel with them if they get out of line. I think Robin hood is an example of a great leader. He has many qualities of a great leader, and the people he leads trust him and love him. There is another leader in the movie that is not very good. The sheriff of Nottingham. He exemplifies cruelty, deceit, and greed. With these qualities he rules with an iron fist as a horrible tyrant. While he was pretty effective for the time he ruled, he could have never been a great ruler no matter how long he ruled. The guy said to a scribe “Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings, and call off Christmas.” (Reynolds). If that does not scream cruel, then I do not know what