The Prince

By Niccolo Machiavelli

Assignment Reflection 3

Lecturer: Dr. Sujaha Chandarlapaty

Submitted by: Awrangzeb Awrang ID#33770

Machiavellis The prince is mostly about human behavior. Before briefly reflecting the

writing of Machiavelli, let us analyze how his writing reflects his own life. Before going to that

part it is very import to know the core of the writing which are about 1. How to acquire the

power and 2. How to maintain the power. Beside there is emphasize on fortune/opportunity

and necessity words. We will reflect the above 4 later.

Analyzing the fortune/necessity items, The prince writing by him was situational,

thus both fortunes & necessity. If he hadnt experienced the tortures and passed the prison term

or if there were no skirmishes in the political scenario of Italy, he might have neither gotten the

opportunity nor the felt the necessity to have such valuable writing. He also was lucky that he

got out of prison, an amnesty decree announced by prince.

Beside Machiavellis wanted to use his writing for creating opportunity to acquire

power. Through this writing he wanted to be noticed by prince and thus considered a man who

knows about tricks how to acquire power and how to maintain it.

Though the 1st part fortune and necessity which resulted in writing of The prince was

a success story. But he was not able to use it for acquiring power. If there is no power, nothing

to keep of it. He was not able to get use of it, since prince didnt read his writing when he was

alive. His wiring The Prince published few years after his death.

How useful and relevant is The Prince Today:

 The two controversial statements in writing are: 1. How not to be good and 2. Preferring

fear over love. Using terms controversial are to state that ideas regarding some points made in

The Prince are pluralistic. Some may support the points by calling them reality, other may

dispute them being so pessimistic, negative and ignoring social norms. Written circa 500 years

ago, the writing is yet quite useful and relevant is todays context of political and business

environment. Argument for supporting the idea of being Machiavellian can fit for some

situation or may be weak in other cases. Machiavellis points regarding preferring fear over

love can be understood, but applying deceiving, betraying, and foxiness as a whole may not

convince everyone.

The Prince nullifies the importance of morality, honesty, sincerity and fairness. The

text states since the people around us deceives, dishonest, immoral and unfair. So to get over

them, its important to be like them. Therefore it is very important for a ruler to learn how not

to be good.

Comparing love and fear, he state that love is a mutual feeling, and fear something

thats one way and implanted. Love may vanish, but fear remains. Therefore for a ruler to stay

in power.

Tony Blaire former British prime minister & some other world leaders are good

example of being Machiavellian. Tony Blaire may havent gotten opportunity of becoming

British prime minister, if then leader of labor party hadnt died at his 50s (fortune). To get

selected for 2nd term, he fairly manipulated migrants issue to get the voters sympathy. Its

noteworthy that Tony Blaire visited Machiavellis home town on 1st year of him being British

prime minister.

Barack Obama, promised his supporter during the campaign to close Guantanamo Bay

prison facility within his official term failed to do so. Other promise was to bring back US
forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. Didnt he bring back the US forces back from these

countries, beside started warfare in Libya, Syria and Yemen?

Italy and France showcasing themselves best friend of Moammer Qaddafi were the first

to provide bases for aircrafts bombing Libyan cities. Saddam Hussain once allies of US was

overthrown and executed under US supervision.

In general Machiavellis writing even today is useful and relevant but there are valid

argument that may nullify its applicability as whole.