The Prince | Study Guide

Niccolò Machiavelli

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Check out this Infographic to learn more about Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince. Study visually with character maps, plot summaries, helpful context, and more.

the-prince-niccolo-machiavelli_UPDATESources: The Atlantic, Business Insider, New York Times Copyright © 2016 Course Hero, Inc.The FoxRepresents courageand ferocity in a princeRepresents cleverness and deceitfulness in a princeThe LionThe CentaurRepresents the dual man-beast nature of humanitySection 17 t is far better to be feared thanloved if you cannot be both.Known as the Florentine Secretary, Machiavelli served in various roles before 1513, when the Medicis returned to power. Subsequently imprisoned, tortured, and exiled, Machiavelli drafted The Princelater that year, dedicating it to the Medicis, perhaps to get into their good graces.NICCOLÓ MACHIAVELLI1469−1527Types of government according to Machiavelli: republics and principalities2Months before writing The Prince that Machiavelli was tortured—strung from a prison ceiling10Years Machiavelli served as a diplomat for the Florentine Republic14Times the word powerful appears in English translations of The Prince22The Princeby the NumbersGood AdvisersExhibit honesty, loyalty, and competenceThe PrincePersonifiesboth virtues and vicesBad AdvisersExhibit flattery, selfishambition, and foolishness Main CharactersSymbolsThemesAuthorDedicated by the Italian philosopher and diplomat to a member of Florence's ruling Medici family, The Prince is a treatise of practical advice to rulers on winning and keeping power. Advocating deceit to achieve goals, the more than five-century-old work continues to be central to the realist school of political thought.To Rule in Securityand ProsperityOVERVIEWVICESDECEITCRUELTYMISERLINESSCOMPASSIONPIETYHONESTYVIRTUESClassLessons of HistorySimilar past situations should inform current political strategies.Carefully resolve conflicts between different sections of society.PracticalityAchieve desired results in the world as it is, rather than in a perfect world.Necessary EvilComplete deeds that may be considered immoral, but which are important to a goal.Niccoló Machiavelli1513ItalianNonfictionAuthorYear WrittenOriginal LanguageThe PrincePhilosophy
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