Machiavelli's The Magnificent Of Medici Rhetorical Analysis

Machiavelli opens The Prince with a dedication to Lorenzo ‘The Magnificent’ de Medici. Machiavelli adopts a remarkably deferential tone which highlights the power gap between himself and the ruler of Florence. The author emphasizes his social inferiority and presents his writing as beneath Medici “I judge this work unworthy to come into your presence” (10). Yet, Machiavelli aims to legitimize his counsel to the eyes of Medici for advising him is the highest political position that Machiavelli may aspire to reach for he was born a commoner. With that in mind, the author underlines that Medici would benefit from the outlook of a well-read ordinary citizen like Machiavelli. He illustrates his argument with a metaphor placing princes on the mountain peaks and himself in adjacent valleys: “those who draw maps of countries put themselves low down on the plain to observe the natures of mountains and of places high above, and to observe that of low places put themselves high up on mountain tops” (10). He infers that in public affairs, perception

Machiavelli insists that living a life deprived of sin is unsustainable given the corrupt nature of our peers, which justified immoral and unethical actions: “Because they [men, author’s note] are bad and do not keep their promises to you, you likewise do not have to keep yours to them” (65). Machiavelli thus advises princes to favor cruelty over mercy when balancing the two is not possible, since mercy will be abused and lead to the demise of the prince: ”men have less hesitation in injuring one who makes himself loved than one who makes himself hated” (62). Indeed, Hannibal and Scipio both possessed remarkable qualities with regards to military strategy. Yet, while Hannibal is remembered as a great leader, Scipio is not for the former gained unwavering respect through fear while the former failed to successfully establish his