Summary:
Compares and contrasts the works of Machiavelli and Luther. Describes how each author shares some very fundamental qualities that are key in defining the sixteenth century. Details how their works are similar in that they were both considered outrageous at the time and deal with ideas that underwent great change because of this.
Although Machiavelli and Luther are very different in their writings and in the field of study that they worked in, they share some very fundamental qualities that are key in defining the sixteenth century. Both of these prominent writers expressed their views, which at the time, were considered to be radical and resulted in revolutionary changes in their times.
Their works are similar in that they were both considered outrageous at the time and deal with ideas that underwent great change because of this. Machiavelli was considered to be crazy and ludicrous for writing the prince and Luther was branded a revolutionary because of his writings. However both men wrote works which were justified and true at their core.
These works differ in many places as well, Machiavelli wrote about gaining and maintaining power through any means necessary, even If they were cruel and inhumane. Luther on the other hand wrote about salvation and faith and how to become closer to God. "But a prince at the head of his armies and commanding a multitude of soldiers should not care a bit if he is considered cruel; with out such a reputation, he could never hold his army together ready for action."(The Prince) Machiavelli proves that at the time people were very concerned with power and how to keep it. A new idea that came out of the sixteenth century was an idea of conquest and striving for material glory. Another idea of the time that is demonstrated by Luther is personal salvation and justification in God's eyes. "Therefore, marks me well: this is the reason why salvation does not lie in our works, no matter what they are; it cannot and will not be effected with out faith."(Luther's Sermon) Luther demonstrates the yearning for being saved and how people wanted to do good deeds in order to be saved. Although Luther and Machiavelli disagree in their philosophies and are almost opposites they both exemplify key ideas to come out of their century. The shift towards material possessions and being justified in physical pleasure and a shift towards the spiritual and Godly. People wanted to get closer to God and know that they are saved, and they saw that their current system was too corrupt and wrapped up in material maters to help them. That is why they turned to people like Luther for answers. The idea of deep faith and Luther's actions were all caused by the church dealing too much with material possessions and trying to get rich.
In the end these two men, although very different and disagreeable with each other, showed the split in opinions at the time. They are both examples of how people turned to either the material world or faith in God because of hardships or personal agendas. No matter what the reason, the sixteenth century changed the way people looked at the world, each other, and themselves and people like Martin Luther and Machiavelli made that possible through their hard work and studies.
This is the complete article, containing 498 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
