Machiavelli's The Prince

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Recommended: Briefly discussed Machiavel's views about human nature as depicted in the prince

Through his literary wonder of the Renaissance, The Prince (1513), Niccoló Machiavelli’s ideal aspirations of government hold his skepticism and duplicit views of humankind. In this work machiavelli simply shares his observations of necessities of a successful Prince compared to those of an unsuccessful one; he hoped the successful Princes would fulfill his goal of unity and expulsion of invaders in Italy. He was not so much advising these Princes, but providing his observations as to what could create their rise or downfall. To be machiavellian is to favor expediency over ethics or morality. Through Machiavelli’s views of how selfish people were and how a Prince should rule over a state duplicity, Machiavelli proved to be machiavellian. …show more content…

His references to the citizens of states in Italy showed his cynic views of mankind. He seemed to observe that people tend to blame others instead of acknowledging themselves as wrong, “...for a new Prince, above all others, it is impossible to escape a name for cruelty, since new States are full of dangers…” (20). Machiavelli saw how effortless it was for others to blame new Princes for their own faults and problems; therefore, as a new Prince there was no avoidance of culpability. Machiavelli considered it beneficial to be a cruel Prince in certain scenarios. Although Prince Agathocles was a treacherous and cold Prince he was successful, “...this results from cruelty being well or ill used” 17. Machiavelli later contradicts this statement, “...every Prince should desire to be accounted merciful and not cruel…” 19. Machiavelli believed that cruelty was a negative trait a Prince should not condone, unless they use their cruelty as an advantage and were

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