How Does Machiavelli Use Rhetorical Devices

The use of persuasive and rhetorical devices in writing is an ancient and incredibly successful technique. Three of the most famous persuasive devices – logos, ethos, and pathos – were identified in Ancient Greece by Aristotle. Devices have now evolved into techniques seen in everyday advertisements, such as repetition, use of example, and appeal to authority. One of the most successful and iconic works of rhetorical writing is “The Morals of the Prince” by Niccolò Machiavelli, published in 1532. “The Morals of the Prince” is an incredibly effective work that persuades the reader to adopt Machiavelli’s values, while enlightening the reader on how to be a successful leader. Machiavelli masterfully uses rhetorical techniques such as paradox,

Only by reading the entire phrase and fully understanding Machiavelli’s reasoning can one really discern his true objective, and the skilled logic that he conveys. Machiavelli often uses historical examples to effectively persuade the reader, such as Caesar, Alexander the Great, and Fabius Maximus. Machiavelli uses Cesare Borgia and the famed destruction of Pistoia to convey that it is often better to be seen as cruel than as merciful, as can be seen in the following quotation:

“People thought Cesare Borgia was cruel, but that cruelty of his reorganized the Romagna, united it, and established it in peace and loyalty. Anyone who views the matter realistically will see that this prince was much more merciful than the people of Florence who, to avoid the reputation of cruelty, allowed Pistoia to be destroyed”

By using antithesis and repetition, he forces the reader to observe each quality and to make their own judgements on whether or not it is a helpful or injurious quality. The purpose of this sentence is to give an example of the qualities that can cause a man to be hated or loved, yet the reader does not know which quality of the pair causes a man to be praised and which to be blamed, which is Machiavelli’s intention. He wants to show that opinions are unpredictable and surprising, and that two men can admire and hate a man based upon one sole quality. This quotation also achieves the same effect as the opening lines of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. By contrasting two subjects over and over again, it becomes engrained in the reader’s mind. Machiavelli’s sophisticated use of logos is one of the most effective rhetorical devices that he uses. His cool and persuasive tone allows his thoughts to be expressed clearly and bluntly, forcing the reader to see the logic in his argument. The following quotation is an excellent example of Machiavelli’s use of logos. Machiavelli states that rulers who are incredibly generous run the risk of falling into debt, and that the solution for being a successful ruler is to not tax one’s people enough to make them dislike you, but to not spend