Machiavelli’s Pyschological Game in “The Prince”

Machiavellis The Prince By Any Means Necessary Part 15 of Machiavellis The Prince, entitled Of the Things for Which Men, and in particular Princes, Are Praised or Blamed, states that, in order for a man to maintain control of a g everyplacenment and better that territory, he must engage in certain actions that may be deemed immoral by the humankind he serves. Machiavelli argues a valid point, that the nature of man is twofold, encompassing good and evil, right and wrong. The lastingness of his argument, however, relies on the fact that the person reading his essay is an objective observer of human nature.Not go away this to chance, Machiavelli plays a psychological game with the reader in order to convince them of his argument. Machiavelli prefaces his thesis with commentary that attempts to go into the reader in a subordinate state-of-mind. He confesses to the reader that he fears sounding presumptuous for sterilizeup about a subject covered many times before by others and d iffering from their opinion in the matter. This statement places the author at the mercy of the reader and prep ares them to hear an idea that may not be popular.Having been asked forgiveness or the pride of the author, the reader drops barriers that he may waste against arguments driven by swelled head and opens his mind to Machiavelli on a personal, sincere level. By placing himself at the feet of the reader, Machiavelli puts himself and his argument in a daub of power. He wastes no time in using this power to gain more than control over the reader. In the next sentence he states that his intention is to create an outline for behavior in public office of use to those who under turn out.This statement compels the reader to agree with the points that the trustworthy, orthright Machiavelli argues, or be relegated the ranks of those ignorant dullards that do not understand. Machiavelli then presents his thesis, that a ruler must use both good and evil in order to maintain his powe r over the state. The reader has almost no choice but to acquit this idea before any proof has been given. With the reader in the palm of his hand, Machiavelli needs only to make a very general argument of his point to convince the reader of its validity.The author states that there are actions for which a prince is either praised or blamed. He lists many examples of good qualities and their opposing attitudes. Instead of labeling them good and evil, however, Machiavelli titles them notional and real. By calling the good traits and the leader who possesses them imaginary, he removes the bite that the mention of evil doing may have on the reader. Removing this emotional punch makes his thesis, that evil behavior is necessary to properly rule, obvious. Machiavelli applies the rules he sets out for self-made management of a nation to his own writing.He is cautious not to offend the reader ith a statement that is too specific. He manipulates the mind of the reader in order to quell h is emotions and make him more accepting of his opinion. He seems weak when he is most powerful and seems powerful when he has no legs to stand on. He is cautious and polite when his foes defenses are up and attacks with all of his resources at his foes weaknesses. Machiavelli writes a strongly convince essay. The proof for his opinion lies not only in the words he speaks but in the hang up and believability of the work itself through the utilization of the very techniques he exhorts.