Changing Interpretations of The Prince and Niccolo...

Changing Interpretations of The Prince and Niccolo Machiavelli After five hundred years, Niccolo Machiavelli the man has ceased to exist. In his place is merely an entity, one that is human, but also something that is far above one. The debate over his political ideologies and theories has elevated him to a mythical status summed up in one word: Machiavelli. His family name has evolved into an adjective in the English language in its various forms. Writers and pundit’s bandy about this new adjective in such ways as, â€Å"He is a Machiavelli,† â€Å"They are Machiavelli’s,† â€Å"This is suitable for a Machiavelli.† These phrases are almost always the words of a person that understands more about Niccolo’s reputation than the man himself.†¦show more content†¦It is telling that, unlike Machiavelli, Hart makes the fictive claim that his tome has been requested of him by the dedicatee; this may help explain the supreme confidence, bordering on arrogance, that pervades The Patriot.† (An ton, 5/27/96) Dick Morris, in his The New Prince, displays his own political ideologies and talks about his experience in the Clinton White House for examples of Machiavellian behavior. â€Å"Morris’s book is all about Bill Clinton, and not incidentally about himself.† (Emery, 7/26/99) Despite his high political standing, he is not qualified to become Machiavelli’s torchbearer in the twenty-first century. â€Å"The book does not deserve actual comparison with ‘The Prince.’ Suffice it so say the Machiavelli is entertaining to read and offers both wisdom and heart along with his steely advice – all beyond Morris’ reach.† (Turner, 7/20/99) Hart’s and Morris’ novels border on arrogance and pomposity. Both men forget that the basis of The Prince was rooted in classical historical examples, and neither provides any to supplement their arguments. Perhaps the worst offender to Machiavelli, however, has been the American media. Journalists have fallen in love with comparing prominent figures to Machiavelli, not realizing that by describing someone as a Machiavelli is really saying theyShow MoreRelated Machiavellian Folly in The Prince Essay1696 Words   |  7 PagesMachiavellian Folly in The Prince      Ã‚  Ã‚   In the annals of history, many individuals have contributed great works of literature, waxing philosophically on the meaning of life, death, and love.  Ã‚   Niccolo Machiavelli wrote not on love or life, but on power:   How to capture it, how to consolidate it, and how to defend it against all comers.   His work has been talked about and dissected to the extent that his subject matter and methods have earned their own moniker:   Machiavellian.   Nonetheless,Read MoreMachiavelli In American Politics934 Words   |  4 PagesMachiavelli In American Politics In his landmark political treatise The Prince, Italian diplomat Niccolo Machiavelli put forth a framework for ruling a people that is at once derided and deferred to even today. 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