In the following excerpt, Mattingly proposes that The Prince be interpreted as a satire.
The notion that this little book [The Prince] was meant as a serious, scientific treatise on government contradicts everything we know about Machiavelli's life, about his writings, and about the history of his time.
In the first place, this proposition asks us to believe that Niccolo Machiavelli deliberately wrote a handbook meant to help a tyrant rule the once free people of Florence....
He has left proof of his devotion in the record of his activities and in the state papers in which he spun endless schemes for the defense and aggrandizement of the republic, and constantly preached the same to his superiors. One characteristic quotation is irresistible. The subject is an increase in the defense budget that Machiavelli's masters were reluctant.....
This is a free excerpt of 135 words. This section contains 2,682 words. This
study guide contains 32,429 words (approx. 108 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Literature Guide with our The Prince Access Pass.
