Machiavelli And Renaissance
The Renaissance is known for being a rebirth of ancient Greek and Roman ideas. Many historians believe it is filled with literature similar to previous works simply retelling the same story. Niccolò Machiavelli took various ideas from ancient political literature, mainly drawing from Plato’s Republic. Next, he set out to write his own political work known as The Prince. This piece of literature is considered a handbook for political leadership. He wanted to be in politics, although could not, thus writing with regards to politics was a close second. The Prince is the uttermost influential work in the Renaissance era as it advocated for a shift in leader’s virtues such as being ethical when needed and putting others before oneself.
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In Christopher Nolan’s popular movie, Batman Begins, the antagonist tells Bruce Wayne, “If you make yourself more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal, you become something else entirely. A legend, Mr. Wayne,” this captures what Machiavelli had in mind in terms of a leaders virtues ("Ra's Al Ghul Quotes”). This is an vital way of seeing a leader in that nearly all leaders were selfish and did whatever to aid themselves. However, Nolan captures the epitome of Machiavelli’s ideas by suggesting he devote himself to a belief, essentially setting the standard for how other leaders should act. He wrote this believing that if the country believed their leader had these virtues, they would build a trust for him. The confidence of his people would enable him to go behind their backs to enact what is necessary for their prosperity. Niccolò mentions a leader who conquered and salvaged resources from another country to award out to his own as being acceptable. This contrasts liberal ideas on the grounds that if a leader took from his own subjects and “spread the wealth”, those he took from would not be contented. If he took from somewhere else and later redistributed the property, people would consider it similar to a bonus. Machiavelli wrote, “It is therefore necessary . . . when he is
Machiavelli …show more content…
In Christopher Nolan’s popular movie, Batman Begins, the antagonist tells Bruce Wayne, “If you make yourself more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal, you become something else entirely. A legend, Mr. Wayne,” this captures what Machiavelli had in mind in terms of a leaders virtues ("Ra's Al Ghul Quotes”). This is an vital way of seeing a leader in that nearly all leaders were selfish and did whatever to aid themselves. However, Nolan captures the epitome of Machiavelli’s ideas by suggesting he devote himself to a belief, essentially setting the standard for how other leaders should act. He wrote this believing that if the country believed their leader had these virtues, they would build a trust for him. The confidence of his people would enable him to go behind their backs to enact what is necessary for their prosperity. Niccolò mentions a leader who conquered and salvaged resources from another country to award out to his own as being acceptable. This contrasts liberal ideas on the grounds that if a leader took from his own subjects and “spread the wealth”, those he took from would not be contented. If he took from somewhere else and later redistributed the property, people would consider it similar to a bonus. Machiavelli wrote, “It is therefore necessary . . . when he is