The Influences of Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince on...

Richard the Third was a power-hungry tyrant, willing to do whatever it took to become the most powerful man in the land. He lied, schemed, and ran down anyone who stumbled across his highway to fame and fortune. His exploits, though morally deplorable, were highly successful for him up until his fateful end. Many of his actions were taken straight from Niccolà ² Machiavelli’s The Prince, which is famous for its hard-hearted philosophies on achieving power and ruling. Richard followed Machiavelli’s advice in that he was ruthless and careful to cover his tracks, but he failed to heed one of his warnings: he made himself unpopular. Richard was pushed far back in the line to the throne, being a third child and the present King already having his own heirs. To even have a chance at ruling, his brothers and the oldest brother’s children would have to be killed. Richard saw to this quickly and methodically, as if murdering family and children were completely natural to him. Near the end he did recognize that what he had done was a damnable deed, but he consoled himself by saying that it was a neccisary evil for him to ascend the throne. By using this justification, he was able to kill anyone who he thought was a threat to his kingship. Machiavelli advised his Prince that if he wanted to gain a position that didn’t belong to him, he would have to be ready to kill the defenders of that space. He warned the Prince that the deed might anger God, but implied that there was no other wayShow MoreRelatedThe Life And Importance Of Machiavelli Essay1367 Words   |  6 Pageswhat others can understand, the thir d understands neither for itself nor through others. This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless† (Niccolà ² Quotes). Niccolà ² Machiavelli was one of the greatest influences on our world today. His research and philosophies explored new strategies and ways of thinking. Machiavelli was before his own time and possibly had the utmost influence on the world of any person from the Renaissance. Machiavelli’s life is greatly a part of historyRead MoreThe Rebirth Of Ancient Cultures1462 Words   |  6 Pagesart, and history. The Renaissance was a powerful cultural movement that not only shaped all aspects of Florentine life, but eventually the rest of Europe. Science, art, literature, philosophy, religion, architecture, and politics have seen heavy influences by this movement. The term Renaissance literally means â€Å"rebirth†: the rebirth of man and the rebirth of two important ancient cultures, Greek and Roman, which had been lost wi th the beginning of the Middle Ages in Western history. Florence was veryRead MoreAnalyse How the Central Values Portrayed in King Richard Iii Are Creatively Reshaped in Looking for Richard.1683 Words   |  7 PagesAn honest tale speeds best, being plainly told.† This quote from William Shakespeare’s King Richard III is a seed from which Al Pacino’s docu-drama Looking For Richard grows, both texts demonstrating the intrinsic relationship between contexts and the composition of texts. As 21st century students, we see Pacino’s creative reshaping emphasise inherent values within the original text, from dynamic perspectives to interpretational understandings, presented in an ‘honest’ and ‘plainly told’ compositionRead MoreVladimir Putin - A Modern Machiavellian Prince Essay2405 Words   |  10 PagesIn 1513, an Italian politician by the name of Niccolo Machiavelli distributed, though privately, a political treatise called The Princ e. This treatise was, essentially, a guide on how to effectively rule ones country. Its important beforehand to define exactly what a Machiavellian is, before describing one. A Machiavellian is a leader who, through his power and influence, works toward the common good of his people. This can be done through fear, through deceit, even through manipulation. It isRead MoreRenaissance And Discovery Of The Renaissance4916 Words   |  20 Pagesof guild masters, shop owners, and professionals, the smaller businesspeople, who tended to side with the new rich against the conservative policies of the old rich †¢ Popolo minuto (â€Å"little people†)—the lower economic classes †¢ Paupers—in 1457, one-third the population of Florence, was officially listed as paupers, or having no wealth at all †¢ Ciompi Revolt—a great uprising of the poor that occurred in Florence in 1378 Three reasons that made life unbearable for the lower classes †¢ feuding betweenRead MoreAp European History Outline Chapter 10 Essay example5639 Words   |  23 Pagesagainst the conservative policies of the old rich * Popolo minuto (â€Å"little people†)—the lower economic classes * Popolo Minuto (â€Å"little people†)—the lower economic classes * Paupers—in 1457, one-third the population of Florence, was officially listed as paupers, or having no wealth at all * Ciompi Revolt—a great uprising of the poor that occurred in Florence in 1378 * Three reasons that made life unbearable for the lower