World Literature - Essay Example

World Literature of the Literature of the Concerned August 13, World Literature What political leaders (historical or modern) would Machiavelli have considered a good example of a “contemporary prince”? Why?Response: It is indeed true that Machiavelli would have indeed considered Hitler and Mussolini to be really apt specimens of a “contemporary prince”, because these leaders emphatically subscribed to the ideals of duplicity and intimidation revered by Machiavelli. As Machiavelli said, “People should either be caressed or crushed”, Hitler ascribed to a doctrine of racial hygiene, which relied on soliciting the blind following of the German people, while rallying them against the ethnic minorities like the Jews and Roma people.

The political strategy of Hitler relied on the doctrine of duplicity and spectacle, as he time and again projected himself as the true redeemer of the German people, while justifying his acts of genocide at the pretext of purifying and saving the German race. As Machiavelli said, “Everyone sees what you appear to be”, the propaganda policy of Mussolini aimed at deceiving the masses, while inciting them against the ethnic minorities and other European nations. 2. Respond to the following discussion question: How does Pico della Mirandola, Laura Cereta, Niccolo Machiavelli or Erasmus illustrate a “humanist” belief in their writing?

(Choose one to focus on) Response: Though Niccolo Machiavelli comes out as a paragon of deception and duplicity in his writings, yet the fact is that this perception could largely be attributed to a loop sided interpretation of The Prince. The fact is that if one dares to give due importance to the human frailty and vices, which do interfere with the lofty ideals in the realm of Realpolitik, Niccolo Machiavelli indeed comes out as a humanist and a pragmatic thinker. The reality is that in his writings, Niccolo Machiavelli takes the humanity as it is with all its innate virtues and weaknesses, and gives way to an idea of a state that is not utopist, but rather real and practical.

How true it sounds as he says, “Men are driven by two principle impulses, either by love or by fear.” Certainly, this conclusion is supported by many modern day psychologists and anthropologists. Thereby, Niccolo Machiavelli is indeed a true humanist as he espouses and idea of human existence that is not perfectionist, but rather real. He comes out as a vehement supporter of diversity imminent in the domain of human character and human values.