Essay on Princely Power - 1621 Words

Princely Power Niccolo Machiavellis The Prince contains a very unique section entitled Princely Virtues in which Machiavelli takes on a how-to approach in regards to becoming a prince. The instructional qualities of the novel lead its reader to create in themselves an image of not the most virtuous, but in Machiavellis eyes, the most effective prince. In the selections found in chapters 15-26, Machiavelli teaches his intended princely students the necessary political skills that a prince must possess in order to maintain his position on top. Machiavelli paints the illusionary portrait of the perfect prince. The prince must take great pains to keep up this virtuous front in order to maintain command as well as respect of his people.†¦show more content†¦Hence, if a prince wishes to maintain himself, he must learn how to be not good, and to use that ability or not as is required (1491). The key to achieving success by Machiavellis reasoning lies in the princes ability to deceive his people, to be good when it is best to be, and to not be when deemed necessary, but principally to be wise enough to know when to be which. Machiavelli asserts that a prince must take care to avoid getting a bad name in order to maintain power, however, he mustnt always observe virtuous qualities although they seem to be praiseworthy, observance of vises may sometimes lead to a virtuous appearance. [I]t will be seen that some things seem to be virtuous, but if they are put into practice will be ruinous to him; other things seem to be vises, yet if put into practice will bring the prince security and well-being this statement becomes the foundation upon which Machiavellis reasoning for allowing such vast flexibility in the princes demeanor (1492). Although Machiavelli justifies princes in straying from the most virtuous path in their own self-interest, he does not condone putting all vises into practice nor does he give princes absolute sanction to do anything they want to reach positive ends. As the focus is turned to the observance of specific virtues, it becomes perfectly clear thatShow MoreRelatedThe princely powers o f the Duchess of Malfi1040 Words   |  4 Pagesshe has fallen in love with. This marriage immediately shows the Duchess’ â€Å"princely powers† by defying the wishes of her brothers, Ferdinand and the Cardinal, to not marry again after being widowed. â€Å"The Duchess of Malfi is ostensibly a story of resistance of a wilful widow who actively defies her brothers’ wishes and refuses to be constrained by (male) authority† (Bartels 420). Webster portrays her brother Ferdinand’s power as a corrupted duplicate of an ideal. An ideal that the Duchess reaches throughRead MoreThe Princely Powers of the Duchess of Malfi849 Words   |  3 PagesDuchess secretly marrying the steward of the household Antonio; a man beneath her class who she has fallen in love with. This marriage immediately shows the Duchess’ â€Å"princely powers† by defying the wishes of her brothers, Ferdinand and the Cardinal, to not marry again after being widowed. Webster portrays her brother Ferdinand’s power as a corrupted duplicate of an ideal. An ideal that the Duchess reaches through the drag of patriarchy. However the play ends as a tragedy with the deaths of almostRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Kachchh 1514 Words   |  7 PagesKachchh in an area of 45,652 square kilometers is urban. Bhuj city is the divadandi (light house) of Kachchh, a gateway to the urban past and present of Kachchh. The princely past of Kachchh and its physical isolation has created a symphony of arts and crafts traditions. 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