Abuse Of Power In The Prince By Niccolo Machiavello

Machiavelli, Niccolò. The Prince. New York: Penguin, 1961.

The Prince, written by Niccolò Machiavelli, was, and is still considered today, one of the most influential and controversial publications of all time. Written during his political demise, Machiavelli dedicated The Prince to Lorenzo de’ Medici, in hopes that he would use his work as a practical guide for ruling Florence, Italy. Throughout his work, Machiavelli addresses a wide range of topics, which are intended to instruct and advise the prince on his use of power and political conduct. Considered the father of modern political thought, Niccolò Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469, in Florence, Italy. In 1498, Machiavelli entered the service of the Florentine republic
The Prince itself is not a guide with instruction over creating the ideal ruling government; it is a guide on how to gain and hold power. By using examples set by great rulers of the past, Machiavelli explains how a ruler can acquire and perpetuate his power through their own prowess. However, Machiavelli urges the prince to gain this power at any means necessary, even if it entails immoral actions. “The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous. Therefore if a prince wants to maintain his rule he must be prepared not to be virtuous” (50). Unlike the humanistic views of the period which exemplified virtue, Machiavelli does not hesitate to throw aside the concept of morality as an effective guide for political action. Instead, he defines “virtue” as the strength, courage, and ability that one exerts. From this stance, Machiavelli explains the necessity of cruelty and punishment when controlling a state and establishing power. He also describes how to use cruelty and execute citizens effectively, all at once and afterwards never again. He insists that this method will be beneficial for the prince since his subjects will eventually forget the crimes forced upon them. Machiavelli uses historical references, such as the rise and fall of Caesar, to support these objectives and argues
In essence, The Prince was the first text of modern political thought that was not based on establishing a government, but with establishing power. When it was first published, it was also met with dissent by the Catholic church due to it’s secularization of politics. The ideas and lessons found throughout The Prince are not solely centered around religion or God, as many works were at the time. Machiavelli explains that religion is used as a uniting force, especially in ecclesiastical principalities, and not an important aspect when establishing political control. “But as they are sustained by higher powers which the human mind cannot comprehend, I shall not argue about them; they are exalted and maintained by god, and so only a rash and presumptuous man would take on himself to discuss them” (38). Instead of looking to religion for explanations, Machiavelli believes that a prince’s success or failure relies on both free will and fortune. Fortune is seen as the unpredictable, but through free will, a prince can foresee or overcome any obstacle that fortune may throw their way. Through this secular approach, Machiavelli believes that a man, especially a prince, is capable of choosing their own destiny and that free will is held more accountable than the presence of a divine